In December of 2023, Ethan Hullihen—a Pittsburgh Pirates contract guru—quietly posted to social media the specifics of an settlement between the group and first baseman Rowdy Tellez. The contract’s incentive construction, per Hullihen, included a $200,000 incentive if Tellez reached 425 plate appearances in 2024.
That piece of Tellez’s contract turned information throughout the baseball world Tuesday afternoon, when the Pirates designated Tellez for project… 4 plate appearances shy of the 425 mark.
In 421 plate appearances this season, Tellez slashed .243/.299/.392 this season with 13 dwelling runs and 56 RBIs. The 29-year-old overcame a nightmarish begin to make his numbers look respectable; he hit .198 in March and April and .143 in Could.
Now we have recalled INF Liover Peguero and OF Joshua Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis, and designated 1B Rowdy Tellez and OF Michael A. Taylor for project.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 24, 2024 Two info, take them for what you’ll:
1. Ethan stories that the Pirates would owe Rowdy a $200,000 bonus if he reaches 425 plate appearances.
2. Rowdy has 421 plate appearances. https://t.co/edbsg7vCCf
— James Santelli, Fan of #1 Pitt Volleyball (@JamesSantelli) September 24, 2024
In the meantime, Pittsburgh’s fortunes operated in reverse. After spending a lot of the season within the playoff hunt, the Pirates pale late and at present sit in final place within the Nationwide League Central division—16 video games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.
Tellez performed for these Brewers from 2021 to ’23, clubbing 35 dwelling runs in 2022.
