The Pittsburgh Pirates released first baseman Rowdy Tellez and outfielder Michael A. Taylor on Tuesday and promoted infielder Liover Peguero and outfielder Josh Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis.
These changes come with only six games left in the season, and Pittsburgh is out of the playoff race.
Tellez bounced back from a slow start to finish with a .243 batting average, 13 home runs, and 56 RBIs over 131 games. The Pirates had signed him to a one-year contract in the offseason.
Before Tuesday’s game, Tellez was just four plate appearances away from earning a $200,000 bonus, but Pirates general manager Ben Cherington stated that the bonus had “zero factor” in the decision to release the 29-year-old, who had become popular with fans during a strong summer performance.
“We feel like we gave Rowdy lots of opportunity here this year,” Cherington told reporters before Pittsburgh faced Milwaukee on Tuesday night.
“To his credit, he fought through some difficult times earlier in the year and fought his way out of it. Had periods of success and periods of frustration. This is just where we got to in the season.”
Taylor, who also signed a one-year deal, struggled with a .193 batting average, five home runs, 21 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 113 games. His playing time decreased recently after the Pirates moved shortstop Oneil Cruz to center field.
Peguero, 23 years old, led all Pirates minor leaguers with 127 hits, 79 RBIs, and 29 doubles, and he tied for second in extra-base hits with 46.
Palacios hit .230 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 20 games with Pittsburgh earlier this season.
