Roster moves.

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/_NoahHiles/status/1838689372562166178

https://x.com/AlexJStumpf/status/1838701945348919581

[Bobster]

Tellez should have been gone long ago. In fact, he should never have been signed in the first place. The Brewers dumped him last year after he hit .219 and .215 the past 2 years. Sure, he hit 35 HRs in 2022 but his 2nd highest HR total was just 21 back in 2019. The year before hitting 35, he hit 11. The year after hitting 35, he hit 13. But Cherington's analytics convinced him that Tellez was a 35 HR guy, not an 11 or 13 HR guy. This year he hit 13 again. He's also slow, plays poor defense and was one of the Pirates' worst offenders for not hustling to 1B.

Adding Tellez was another mistake by Cherington. It was obvious from the beginning of the season. He managed to hit well in June, July and August if you don't want power. He provided only 11 HRs in those 3 months. But he's batted .116 in September. But despite his poor defense, lack of power, lack of hustle and terrible hitting for half the season, the Pirates were fine with trotting him out there to start 105 games. And then suddenly, with only 6 meaningless games remaining, he's DFA'd just 4 PAs away from collecting a bonus. That's about 105 games too late. So the criticism of letting him go is based on the reason they did it. This team isn't about winning. They didn't care that he was a below average player. They didn't care that his ABs could have been given to players who might help next season. What they cared about--the only thing they cared about--was money. Of all the legitimate reasons for getting rid of Tellez, the only one that mattered was saving a $200,000 bonus. They don't mind poor play on the field, but that's where they draw the line! If it weren't for that, they'd have no problem trotting him out there for the last week of the season despite all his flaws as a player.

This team doesn't care about winning. That's obvious. All they care about is money. That's obvious. And it looks like they don't care how obvious they make it.

[Bobster]

https://x.com/_NoahHiles/status/1838689372562166178

https://x.com/AlexJStumpf/status/1838701945348919581

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NtksEHYtK4

[Doc]

Tellez should have been gone long ago. In fact, he should never have been signed in the first place. The Brewers dumped him last year after he hit .219 and .215 the past 2 years. Sure, he hit 35 HRs in 2022 but his 2nd highest HR total was just 21 back in 2019. The year before hitting 35, he hit 11. The year after hitting 35, he hit 13. But Cherington's analytics convinced him that Tellez was a 35 HR guy, not an 11 or 13 HR guy. This year he hit 13 again. He's also slow, plays poor defense and was one of the Pirates' worst offenders for not hustling to 1B.

Adding Tellez was another mistake by Cherington. It was obvious from the beginning of the season. He managed to hit well in June, July and August if you don't want power. He provided only 11 HRs in those 3 months. But he's batted .116 in September. But despite his poor defense, lack of power, lack of hustle and terrible hitting for half the season, the Pirates were fine with trotting him out there to start 105 games. And then suddenly, with only 6 meaningless games remaining, he's DFA'd just 4 PAs away from collecting a bonus. That's about 105 games too late. So the criticism of letting him go is based on the reason they did it. This team isn't about winning. They didn't care that he was a below average player. They didn't care that his ABs could have been given to players who might help next season. What they cared about--the only thing they cared about--was money. Of all the legitimate reasons for getting rid of Tellez, the only one that mattered was saving a $200,000 bonus. They don't mind poor play on the field, but that's where they draw the line! If it weren't for that, they'd have no problem trotting him out there for the last week of the season despite all his flaws as a player.

This team doesn't care about winning. That's obvious. All they care about is money. That's obvious. And it looks like they don't care how obvious they make it.

I don’t know how anyone could contest what you’re saying. The fact that Cherington said four times that the bonus had no impact on Rowdy’s release is the surest give away that it absolutely had everything to do with it.

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/_NoahHiles/status/1838702667649974776

[Wildwoodcoach]

If they had DFA him about a month ago when he began his late
season swoon, nobody would be saying anything. They knew he
wouldn't be returning. Should have gotten rid of him much earlier.

[Bobster]

https://x.com/_NoahHiles/status/1838702667649974776

This won't affect signing free agents in the future because the Pirates sign declining free agents who aren't wanted by other teams. Tellez probably got more playing time and--even without the bonus--more money from the Pirates than he was likely to get elsewhere. Guys like Tellez, Taylor and Grandal will always gravitate to the Pirates--despite the team's frugal ways--because their options are so limited. Nutting's pitch to free agents should be, "We're better than nothing."

[Ecbucs]

https://x.com/_NoahHiles/status/1838702667649974776

This won't affect signing free agents in the future because the Pirates sign declining free agents who aren't wanted by other teams. Tellez probably got more playing time and--even without the bonus--more money from the Pirates than he was likely to get elsewhere. Guys like Tellez, Taylor and Grandal will always gravitate to the Pirates--despite the team's frugal ways--because their options are so limited. Nutting's pitch to free agents should be, "We're better than nothing."

the Pittsburgh Pirates, last stop before Japan or South Korea.

[Babe Adams]

I was in the car at the start of the pre-game show. They teased the Tellez story, but I had to get out of the car. I really, really expected that they were going to shut the story down, like there was some proration provision if a veteran was cut in September. They never cease to surprise, though.

[mouse]

I suspect this was BCs idea. It is sure to hold Nutting up to ridicule in Pittsburgh and one thing very wealthy people dislike, it's being made fun of in public. This might be enough to cause him to DFA both BC and Shelty. No?