An MLB insider has strongly criticized Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting after the team designated Rowdy Tellez for assignment just before he could earn a $200,000 bonus. Tellez, who needed 425 plate appearances to receive the bonus, was cut after reaching 421.
Pirates GM Ben Cherington insisted that the bonus played no role in the decision, stating that Tellez had been given ample opportunities throughout the season but the team simply reached a point where they decided to move on. Tellez, who signed a one-year, $3.2 million deal, finished the season with 13 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .243 batting average.
During an appearance on *The Pat McAfee Show*, ESPN’s Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan strongly criticized the Pirates’ ownership, questioning why the team continues to operate on a low budget, with just an $86 million payroll at the start of the season. Passan argued that instead of making short-term, low-cost moves, the Pirates should invest in higher-quality players if they truly want to compete.
Passan expressed sympathy for Cherington and the rest of the management, who are forced to operate with limited financial resources. He pointed out that while Tellez should have been replaced months earlier, the Pirates’ unwillingness to spend more money led to decisions like this.
Despite making some trade deadline moves, the Pirates’ season collapsed after a 10-game losing streak in August, marking the ninth straight year they’ll miss the playoffs. Owner Bob Nutting, who is reportedly worth $1.1 billion, was the main target of Passan’s criticism for the team’s ongoing struggles.
