Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington stated that a $200,000 bonus clause in Rowdy Tellez’s contract, which was not activated due to him falling four plate appearances short, had no influence on the decision to designate him for assignment. Cherington emphasized, “We were aware of it, certainly. I know the contracts that all players have. No factor at all, zero. And, no, I’m not concerned. Contracts are negotiated in good faith and then they play out. It had nothing to do with where the plate appearances were lining up.”
Cherington, along with manager Ben Shelton, expressed little worry that this move would negatively affect the team’s reputation as they head into the offseason. He anticipated that the decision would not create discord in the clubhouse. Along with Tellez, center fielder Michael A. Taylor was also designated for assignment, and unlike Tellez, Taylor was not in line for any additional performance bonuses.
In a commentary from Jason Mackey, the decision to designate Tellez was labeled as “absurd,” further tarnishing the perception of the Pirates as a “cheap” organization. Mackey suggested this makes it difficult for the Pirates to attract free agents, as players share their experiences, implying that both Tellez and Taylor would not recommend Pittsburgh to prospective signings.
Despite Tellez and Taylor’s salaries being guaranteed, the only financial benefit for the Pirates would be the avoidance of Tellez’s $200,000 bonus, which could lead to broader negative repercussions concerning public perception. Tim Benz echoed a similar sentiment, noting that while the Pirates were within their rights to make such a decision, it demonstrated a lack of understanding of the current environment and suggested that the money saved might be better spent on hiring public relations expertise to improve the team’s image, which has often been the subject of mockery in baseball circles.