Pirates Designate Tellez and Taylor for Assignment

The Pittsburgh Pirates have designated first baseman Rowdy Tellez and outfielder Michael A. Taylor for assignment as they begin to focus on the next season after being eliminated from playoff contention. This decision comes just four plate appearances shy of Tellez earning a $200,000 bonus, a move that sparked controversy among fans and raised questions about the team's future strategies. Tellez concluded his season with a .243 batting average, 13 home runs, and 56 RBIs, while Taylor struggled with a .193 average. In their place, the Pirates have recalled infielder Liover Peguero and outfielder Joshua Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis, both of whom had strong minor league performances. General manager Ben Cherington stated that financial considerations did not influence the decision to DFA Tellez and Taylor. The Pirates now have 38 players on their 40-man roster as they look to rebuild for the 2025 season.