PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Not saying the Pirates have a body-type in mind, but for the third straight offseason the Bucs have signed a sturdy, left-hand hitting first baseman. As first reported by MLB Insider Robert Murray, Rowdy Tellez signs a one-year deal to come to Pittsburgh.
Tellez hit .215 with the Brewers last season with 13 home runs, nine doubles and a triple in 105 games. His on-base percentage was .291 and slugging was .376. A year prior, in 2022, Tellez hit a career-highs with 23 doubles, 35 home runs, drove in 89 with a .219 batting average, .461 slugging percentage and .767 OPS with Milwaukee.
Originally the Toronto Blue Jays 30th round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, Tellez played parts of four years with the Jays hitting .241 with 37 home runs in 219 games. In two-plus seasons with the Brewers, 55 home runs and 164 RBI in 314 games. His eight career home runs and 29 RBI against the Pirates is the most he’s hit against any National League team.
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According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the guarantee on the one-year deal is $3 million and with incentives could be an additional one million dollars.
The 6’4”, 270-pound Tellez follows the 6’1”, 260-pound Ji Man Choi signed by the Pirates in 2022 and 6’, 270-pound Daniel Vogelbach signed in 2021.