The Pirates introduced that they’ve designated first baseman Rowdy Tellez and outfielder Michael A. Taylor for project. These two energetic roster spots will go to infielder Liover Peguero and outfielder Joshua Palacios, who’ve each been recalled from Triple-A Indianapoli. Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette reported about Tellez on X shortly earlier than the official announcement. The membership’s 40-man roster rely drops to 38.
Each Tellez and Taylor have been signed to modest one-year offers within the winter because the Bucs tried to complement their roster. Tellez acquired a $3.2MM assure whereas Taylor acquired $4MM. Sadly, neither signing labored out properly for the Bucs, as each gamers have struggled this 12 months. With only a handful of video games left within the season and the membership properly out of rivalry, the Pirates have bumped them off and can presumably give extra enjoying time to youthful guys who may maybe issue into subsequent 12 months’s membership.
Tellez, 29, was non-tendered by the Brewers after a poor 2023 season. He hit 13 house runs and slashed .215/.291/.376 for a 78 wRC+. However since he had hit 35 house runs in 2022 with a .219/.306/.461 line and 110 wRC+, it wasn’t completely loopy for the Bucs to count on a bounceback.
In the long run, Tellez had an up-and-down season in 2024 that mirrored his inconsistent ends in prior years. His Pittsburgh tenure began terribly, as he hit .177/.239/.223 by means of the top of Could. He then acquired scorching sizzling for 3 months, hitting .310/.346/.533 from June to August. However he’s gone chilly once more recently with a .116/.255/.209 efficiency in September.
Put collectively, Tellez has a .243/.299/.392 line and 89 wRC+ on the 12 months. He isn’t thought of a robust defender and isn’t a burner on the basepaths, so he doesn’t actually supply a lot worth if he’s not producing with the bat. Each FanGraphs and Baseball Reference take into account him to have been under alternative degree this 12 months. The Bucs will probably unfold the primary base enjoying time round to some totally different guys for his or her remaining video games however the place ought to be a goal space for them to improve this winter.
It’s additionally doable there’s a monetary motivation for shifting on from Tellez. Per Ethan Hullihen on X, Tellez would have unlocked a $200K bonus by attending to 425 plate appearances and is at present at 421.
Taylor has at all times been a wonderful defender in heart area however with inconsistent offensive outcomes. Final 12 months was maybe his greatest displaying on the plate, as he hit 21 homers for the Twins, however he nonetheless struck out 33.5% of the time. His offense cratered this 12 months, as he struck out 35% of the time and slashed .193/.253/.290 for a wRC+ of fifty. Amongst gamers with no less than 300 plate appearances this 12 months, solely Brandon Drury and Eddie Rosario have a decrease wRC+ mark. Oneil Cruz, who struggled defensively at shortstop, has been moved to heart area recently.
The Bucs will put each gamers on waivers within the coming days however they’re certain to go unclaimed. They gained’t be postseason eligible with any claiming group and their current efficiency gained’t give them any attraction for the remaining video games of the common season. Every participant has sufficient service time to reject an outright project and elect free company, so they’ll probably be going into offseason mode a number of days forward of schedule.
