The Pittsburgh Pirates have designated first baseman Rowdy Tellez and center fielder Michael A. Taylor for assignment. Shortstop Liover Peguero and outfielder Joshua Palacios have been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace them on the roster.
We have recalled INF Liover Peguero and OF Joshua Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis, and designated 1B Rowdy Tellez and OF Michael A. Taylor for assignment.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 24, 2024
Pirates Designate Tellez and Taylor for Assignment
Tellez, 29, and Taylor, 33, were added to the Pirates on one-year contracts before the season began. As did the 2024 Pirates, both fell short of expectations. Playing mostly against right-handed pitching, the left-handed-hitting Tellez hit .243/.299/.392, 13 home runs, and 56 RBI. That was a far cry from the 2022 season when he hit 35 home runs. Yet he became an unlikely popular figure among Pirates fans, who previously wanted to run him out of Pittsburgh when he ended May with a .177/.239/.223 slash line.
With seemingly no major-league-ready first basemen in the system, there was much debate among Pirates fans as to whether Tellez should be extended. Some argued the position needed upgrading. Others felt that first base would be in good hands with Tellez and a better platoon partner. Regardless, the issue appears to be resolved now, as this latest move seems to slam the door on Tellez’s return.
To call Taylor a disappointment is like saying Eric Clapton can play a little guitar. Taylor managed to hit just .193/.253/.290, five home runs, 21 RBI, and an OPS+ of 51, not helped by a 35 percent strikeout rate. He was strong defensively as always, credited with 14 Fielding Runs Above Average and 12 Defensive Runs Saved. Because of his defense, he had a positive 0.9 WAR. He may have fit well into a team with a strong lineup. However, with Ke’Bryan Hayes, Yasmani Grandal, and Jared Triolo in the lineup fairly regularly, the Pirates carried too many glove-first players who struggled to hit in the low .200s, making Taylor a poor fit. He never lived up to his $4 million salary.
Up with Peguero and Palacios
The Pirates recently recalled Billy Cook and Nick Yorke as they started the evaluation process for 2025. Casting off Tellez and Taylor allows the Pirates to look at two more players from the system. This time, the beneficiaries are two names who should be familiar to Pirates fans.
Peguero, 23, was acquired in general manager Ben Cherington’s first trade after he was hired in 2019. He appeared in one major league game in 2022. He got a good look in 2023 when he hit .230/.280/.374 with a surprising seven home runs in 59 games. Peguero was part of a crowded middle infield competition in spring training. However, he didn’t make the final cut and hit .260/.333/.462 in the minors.
If he gets into a game in the Pirates’ final six games, it will be his first major league appearance in 2024. When he was acquired, it was thought that Cherington had his shortstop of the future. But Peguero would soon take a back seat to Oneil Cruz in the Pirates’ consciousness. Cruz was recently moved to center field, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa taking over at shortstop. “IKF” has played well but giving Peguero another look wouldn’t hurt and is part of the usual due diligence for a team in the Pirates’ position.
Cherington was aware of Palacios from their time together with the Toronto Blue Jays when Cherington was their vice president of baseball operations. Palacios, 29, who can all three outfield spots, had a 20-game stint with the Pirates earlier this year when he hit .230/.319/.344. His value is in his contagious enthusiasm and prowess as a pinch hitter. Last year, he was 8-for-22 with two home runs in that role.
Main Photo: © David Banks-Imagn Images
