The Pittsburgh Pirates wrapped up their season with a surprising final twist involving Isiah Kiner-Falefa. On the last day of the regular season against the New York Yankees, Kiner-Falefa was absent from the lineup, just four plate appearances away from earning a $250,000 bonus.
Adding to the drama, former first baseman Rowdy Tellez had recently been designated for assignment after being four at-bats shy of a $200,000 bonus as well. It seems like a cruel coincidence, and fans are taking notice.
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Reports later revealed that Kiner-Falefa decided to step aside voluntarily to give younger player Liover Peguero a chance to start at shortstop. “I thought it wasn’t fair to take an opportunity away from Peggy or one of the young guys,” he said. Kiner-Falefa, who missed a month due to injury, felt he shouldn’t cash in on that bonus as he believed he could have easily surpassed those incentives had he been healthy.
Pirates GM Ben Cherington stated that the bonuses had “zero factor” in Tellez’s release, acknowledging the tough nature of such decisions. “We feel like we gave Rowdy lots of opportunity here this year,” he explained, noting the ups and downs Tellez faced throughout the season.
Cherington didn’t foresee any negative repercussions in the clubhouse, emphasizing that players understand the team’s situation. “They know we need to fill our roster with those who can contribute moving forward,” he added.
Kiner-Falefa supported the Pirates’ decisions, mentioning that the club “tried to make it right in the end.”