The Pittsburgh Pirates designated first baseman Rowdy Tellez and outfielder Michael A. Taylor for assignment, the club announced Tuesday.
The Pirates also recalled infielder Liover Peguero and outfielder Joshua Palacios from Triple-A in corresponding roster moves.
Tellez signed a two-year contract with the Pirates in the offseason. The 29-year-old hit 13 home runs with 56 RBIs and a .691 OPS in 132 games this season.
The veteran first baseman needed four more plate appearances to collect a $200,000 bonus, sources told Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pirates manager Derek Shelton said the bonus didn't factor into the decision to DFA Tellez.
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington also said the bonus didn't factor into the decision. He explained that he isn't concerned about the optics in regards to attracting future free agents.
"Contacts are negotiated in good faith," Cherington said, according to MLB.com's Alex Stumpf.
Taylor inked a one-year, $4-million contract in March. The 33-year-old slashed .193/.253/.290 with five home runs, 21 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases across 113 appearances. Taylor still graded out as an excellent defensive player, ranking in the 96th percentile in outs above average.
