The Pittsburgh Pirates started off last season on fire.
They spent 27 days in first place, and occupied the top spot in the NL Central as late as June 15.
Then, they slumped and started looking like the usual, mediocre Pirates.
Still, they took a step forward and want to be competitive.
That’s why they went to the free-agent market and added a solid power bat.
“Rowdy Tellez has agreed to a one-year deal with the Pirates, per source. @ByRobertMurray was on it,” MLB insider Mark Feinsand tweeted.
Rowdy Tellez has agreed to a one-year deal with the Pirates, per source. @ByRobertMurray was on it.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 13, 2023
Tellez might not be the most consistent slugger out there, but he represents a significant upgrade and a solution for the middle of the Pirates lineup.
This past season, he hit .215/.291/.376 with 13 home runs and a .667 OPS with the Milwaukee Brewers.
He is now moving close to where he was, but goes from a first-place team to the Pirates.
There were some signs of life within the organization, and the hope is that Tellez can play closer to his 2022 form (35 home runs, 89 RBI, .767 OPS) so that the Pirates can keep on growing and improving.
Endy Rodriguez recently suffered an injury and will be forced to miss the entire 2024 campaign, but Henry Davis, Jared Triolo, Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Jack Suwinski, and Tellez should all be back, available, and ready to help.
A little more aggressiveness when bringing in free agents is necessary from the Pirates if they want to have a chance of avoiding a last-place finish next year, though.
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