The Pirates introduced that they’ve designated first baseman Rowdy Tellez and outfielder Michael A. Taylor for task. 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 Publish-Gazette reported about Tellez on X shortly earlier than the official announcement. The membership’s 40-man roster depend drops to 38.
Each Tellez and Taylor had been signed to modest one-year offers within the winter because the Bucs tried to complement their roster. Tellez obtained a $3.2MM assure whereas Taylor obtained $4MM. Sadly, neither signing labored out nicely for the Bucs, as each gamers have struggled this yr. With only a handful of video games left within the season and the membership nicely 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 yr’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 anticipate 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 via the top of Might. He then obtained scorching sizzling for 3 months, hitting .310/.346/.533 from June to August. However he’s gone chilly once more these days with a .116/.255/.209 efficiency in September.
Put collectively, Tellez has a .243/.299/.392 line and 89 wRC+ on the yr. He isn’t thought-about a powerful defender and isn’t a burner on the basepaths, so he doesn’t actually provide a lot worth if he’s not producing with the bat. Each FanGraphs and Baseball Reference take into account him to have been under substitute degree this yr. The Bucs will seemingly unfold the primary base enjoying time round to some completely different guys for his or her remaining video games however the place needs to be a goal space for them to improve this winter.
Taylor has all the time been a superb defender in middle area however with inconsistent offensive outcomes. Final yr 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 yr, as he struck out 35% of the time and slashed .193/.253/.290 for a wRC+ of fifty. Amongst gamers with a minimum of 300 plate appearances this yr, solely Brandon Drury and Eddie Rosario have a decrease wRC+ mark. Oneil Cruz, who struggled defensively at shortstop, has been moved to middle area these days.
The Bucs will put each gamers on waivers within the coming days however they’re positive to go unclaimed. They received’t be postseason eligible with any claiming crew and their latest efficiency received’t give them any attraction for the remaining video games of the common season. Every participant has sufficient service time to reject an outright task and elect free company, so they’ll seemingly be going into offseason mode just a few days forward of schedule.