The Mariners are in agreement with Rowdy Tellez on a minor league deal with an invite to MLB camp, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Tellez is represented by Primo Sports Group.
It’s a rebound opportunity for the 29-year-old first baseman. Tellez signed with the Pirates last offseason on a $3.2MM free agent deal. He spent most of the season as Pittsburgh’s starting first baseman. He had an up-and-down year. Tellez limped to a .177/.239/.223 line through the first two months. He caught fire once the summer got underway. Tellez raked at a .310/.346/.533 clip between the start of June and the end of August. His numbers crashed back to earth in September, when he hit .116/.255/.209 across 51 plate appearances.
Pittsburgh released Tellez in late September. That controversially came just before he was set to reach his 425th plate appearance, which would have triggered a $200K bonus in his contract. While it’s likely that played a part in the team’s decision, Tellez’s late-season slump dropped his overall numbers back below replacement level. He finished the year with a .243/.299/.392 line with 13 homers across 421 trips to the plate.
Tellez has been a below-average hitter in three of the past four seasons. He carries a .229/.301/.417 slash in nearly 1700 plate appearances since the start of 2021. Tellez had mashed in small samples with the Blue Jays in 2018 and ’20, but he’s a career .234/.303/.436 hitter. He’s a subpar baserunner and defensive first baseman, which puts a lot of pressure on the bat.
Luke Raley will get most of the first base work against right-handed pitching. Mitch Garver and Mitch Haniger each figure to get designated hitter reps as they look to bounce back from rough seasons. Tellez doesn’t have much of a path to an Opening Day roster spot unless someone suffers an injury. He could open the season with Triple-A Tacoma if opportunities don’t arise during Spring Training.
Good luck. Seems like a decent guy.
Bargain bin shopping at its finest… why sign a guy like Jose Iglesias or JD Martinez when you can take a flier on a surefire player like Rowdy Tellez? This ownership clearly wants to win.
Here’s a hint pal….
Minor
League
Signing
Every club makes these deals.
Every club makes these types of deals Every single year. He has to earn his spot, if he didn’t it would have been a….
Major
League
Signing
Had to dumb it down for you sense things like this seem so hard to grasp.
Since**
Here’s a hint pal… never once did I say I didn’t understand it was a
MINOR
LEAGUE
SIGNING
It doesn’t change the fact that we are in an offseason when we should be increasing payroll and making the most of the best window we’ve had to try and win a championship. For a team by the way, who has never even been to a world series. This ownership has done nothing but make cheap signings and budget bin shop all offseason. The problem is that we will make these minor league signings with an invite to camp and they will inevitably make our roster and we will be told that it’s their solution.
I know it’s hard for a fan of a team that actually competes every year to actually understand. We just want some kind of…
MAJOR
LEAGUE
SIGNINGS
Sorry I just had to take a moment to dumb it down for you…
You condescending @ss.
Let me ask you this, since I’m so condescending… How does JD Martinez help the Mariners? He’s an old player who is only declining and Is a DH only player. Tellez can at the least play some okay 1st base. I wouldn’t trust martinez to be a ball boy at this stage. And Iglesias? You guys already signed Solano. I didn’t know y’all needed two of him. If the Mariners wanted to add an offensive player they should have months ago. Now it’s spring training and the only players left to sign are minor league quad A players like Tellez. All teams do this at this stage of the off-season/ beginning of spring training and have for years. I feel you, the Mariners management sucks, and they suck bad. The fans need better, but they didn’t add anybody so you rock with what you got. Going on and on about players such as Martinez and Iglesias just to say hey we finally signed someone is short sighted because they don’t even move the needle an inch. Tellez hit 13 home runs, JD hit 15 but he’s older, a dh only player and will only regress further. Iglesias and solono are almost the same player. So you guys have signed the players you are championing for…. at least you guys have a dominant pitching staff. Almost every single team in the league would love to have at least one of your starters in their rotations. So rock with what y’all have, hope Rodriguez has positive regression and turns into a star, hope Cal Raleigh continues being one of the best hitting catchers in the league and the Mariners should at least fight for a post season spot where anything can happen.
Do you know who the Mariners are rocking with at 2nd base and DH currently? Mitch Garver and Mitch Haniger at DH… both were actually negative graded players last year. And while Rowdy gives the same amount of power as JD, JD is undeniably more of an asset at the plate because he actually walks. He would absolutely move the needle for us at DH.
And yes… I would take a 2nd Solano because right now our starting 2nd base is projected to be Dylan Moore or Ryan Bliss… adding Igelsias would absolutely be moving the needle as well. You can then let Solano platoon at 1st with Raley and DH.
I get your point of not making a move just to make it, but with how the roster is constructed currently, both players help this team.
And again… I understand that every team this time of year adds players to minor league contracts and invites them to camp, but our team does that with the intent that these are the cheap risks we can take to fill out our roster and they will make the opening day roster and we will pray and hope we catch lightning in a bottle. I would much rather we actually pony up for a proven bat.
JD Martinez has no interest playing in Seattle, I believe that was gleaned from last offseason when the M’s had looked at signing him. Probably a mixture of the challenging hitting environment and the excess travel which makes every free agent more expensive for us (or we are not even on their list.) Rowdy Telez looks like a Mike Ford wannabe or vice versa. At any rate Triple AAA depth if he decides to stick around.
Lol you’re so worked up. Simmer down now.
This deal wouldn’t preclude us from signing one of those guys you mentioned, but I’m guessing neither of them care to come here anyway or the FO doesn’t view them as needle movers in comparison to the internal options. I’d love Iglesias though.
Not sure why you’re so down on Moore, though, he’s a valuable player any way you slice it.
YOu cant just sign players. They are free agents and have a say where they want to play. For a big FA that everyone ask management to sign, Seattle has to add more years and a lot more money in order for those FA players to come to Seattle. Draft and trades is where Seattle has to build and add short term low cost veterans through FA.
Braves_saints_celts
I feel you, the Mariners management sucks, and they suck bad.
========================
I think the FO is doing fine, but they need to spend more. This is a WS-contender level rotation, and imo, Seattle can sustain another 300k in attendance pretty easily.
I’m not down on Moore in the role he is fit for, which is a floating utility player. He is not cut out to be an everyday position player. We have tried that and he has been exposed.
If you were a fan of this team you’d understand… 23 years and only 1 playoff appearance. Watching offseasons like this happen gets real old real fast.
Let me
Dumb
It
Down
For
Both
Of
You
This is a board used to discuss ideas throw them against the wall and see if anything sticks. No need to act like a condescending @ss. Heck I was wondering why Seattle would be interested in a
SLIGHTLY
ABOVE
AVG
LATIN
SINGER
That is my personal view. It might be stupid or maybe I thought they were going to sign a singer. Probably not but heck who knows.
SO
HOW
ABOUT
WE COOL
IT
DOWN
BE
RESPECTFUL
Besides is Mariner fans are starting to see what has been done to us. We are like the frog put in pond warmth water. We have 3rd degree burns on us and are just feeling the burn.
I
SAY
BRING
IN
DOGE
LET
ELON
SEE
THE
WASTE
AND
FIRE
OWNERSHIP
HE
OR
TRUMP
CAN
BUY
IT
AND
LET
ERIC
OR
BARRON
RUN
IT
Can’t be run much worse than it has.
You’ve got be joking about DOGE please proton I have always taken you for a sober, rationally minded person please don’t do this to me.
They took down my post. This is getting to be like the old Facebook and the other social media services. Someone (ME) makes some jokes about politics and it is censored. Anyway SON we need to get a beer sometime. We could hang and talk sports.
Why does everyone assume because a team didn’t sign a guy that the guy was willing to go there?
U R spot on! Braves Saint either doesn’t follow the Mariners is pissed that ownership isn’t trying to make the post season! If they had just invested another 30M in the offence this team would have made the playoffs for sure and have a chance with this pitching staff to win it all.. It’s a top 5 pitching staff connected to a bottom 5 offence! With the fan support upping the payroll to 185M would still only be 13th highest in MLB!
Actually, I think Braves Saint was pretty spot on. He never said don’t improve the roster, he said we should have signed better players months ago… and he’s right. The guys left over are not needle movers. They’re average players who nobody should expect to provide much WAR.
Puts the L in LBS
Good. I’ve really been wanting another big fat guy ever since vogey left
Vogey the star of the 13-2 start that everyone forgot about
When that happened in 2019 so many people in Seattle were saying the mariners were legit and I was the one guy who said we were gonna do nothing but then we lost 100 games
no one thought they were legit that year. That was year 1 of the rebuild where they started to shed all their payroll and acquire prospects and young players
I don’t remember anybody thinking we were actually legit. The underlying numbers didn’t support a start nearly that hot and everyone knew the roster was not built to compete.
No one thought they were good that year. You were not the only one.
M’z did it. They hung out a Work for Food sign, and now Rowdy’s gonna break ’em
I find it hilarious when commenters are calling people like Telez out for being fat…not like he’s the one who is a PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE and they’re the ones sitting at home.
News flash – you don’t need to be absolutely ripped to be an athlete, especially in MLB lol
You’re right he is a professional, professional at the buffet
He’s much much fatter than most if not all other mlb players. And he’s also much much fatter than me, a regular guy who doesn’t even diet or exercise or work out. So yeah. Fat comments about him are warranted. he has professional trainers and dietitians at his disposal. Maybe he has a genetic condition or something but it seems like someone with his resources should be able to stay a lot more trim
He collects calories like they’re Pokémon
*could* be a sneaky good pickup for the Mariners. *could* be…
Is this Dipotos counter to Root Sports letting Mentink take over Blowers spot? You sign someone nobody else wants, I sign somebody nobody else wants.
Wait we are going to have mentik call all of our games this year???
I don’t want to sound sexist but the women haven’t played in pro baseball (so they have little experience) and I haven’t heard a female announcer that had a nice voice yet
Angie has been one of the Mariners analysts since the 90s, and is a retired pro softball player. She knows the game more than you or I do.
She should share all that knowledge every now and then, last time i checked tho softball and baseball are not even remotely the same thing when you get down to mechanics and fundamentals. don’t see many players pitching underhand and running in the batters box while the pitch is on the way.
She has been in broadcasting since 1998. Mariners since 2021. Was a terrific softball player at UW.
Blowers is gone?
Thats the best Mariners news I’ve heard in ages
No Simms is gone would be the best news. That guy totally sucks and is a pompous idiot.
One of his best rants even counting the I got to sit down and talk to Yogi when he was still playing crap. He was like 9 or so when these guys retired. The Yogi example years might not be exact. But he used names like that all the time.
Back to the better example. He said “ I hate it when they dump the water on us layers when they are miked up with headphones on. They could really hurt them by being electrocuted “. OK genius mics have batteries no way they are strong enough to hurt you. Who put there tongue on both posts on a 9 volt? You got a little buzz that is all. Heck I have been shocked harder welding in the rain. Please get rid of the fool. Besides I like Angie she came from my side of the woods.
Dude eats his wheaties
He ate my wheaties too
Solano having visa issues so likely to cover the start of spring training as much as anything. Will have to do a lot to jump Locklear in the first base queue, let alone get close to Raley or Solano as serious considerations for the opening day roster.
The Tacoma DH position was wide open before the signing, he can play there. Rowdy most likely won’t make it on the Mariners, but depth is depth and he’s run into a few hot streaks in his career.
Dude that’s a lot of Dick’s. I hope that’s not a regular option for you and more like a once every 6 months type of treat. Is Kidd Valley still around making burgers? Tasty as well. Get that cholesterol checked out son.
Who doesn’t like a lot of Dicks?
Who knew eating so many Dicks would be so gratifying?
Okay just to clarify to you out-of-towners and those who may not be in the know, Seattle has a chain of fast food burger joints called Dick’s Burgers or more colloquially just goes by “Dick’s”. So those of you who may have been confused about my statement now can be comfortably informed I was only referring to the restaurant chain and no other oblique reference need be inferred or assumed. Thank you for your understanding and reminder this is a family oriented website.
I like Dick’s fries. Long crispy right amount of grease and the inside is an explosion of taste. Follow it up with a long drag of a strawberry shake and it is climatic.
Just so you you out of towners know Dicks is much better than those 2 burger joints that they have in Cali and wherever else they are now. Been awhile since I have ate at Dicks. The restaurant not whatever sad sob is in denial of. I think 5 Guys might be better though. It is a lot more expensive and the fries might be on par but the burger is better.
Seriously, what’s up with all the nastiness and fat jokes?
Be better, people.
Hahaha! Your sensibilities might not be cut-out for the internet.
Believe it or not, this isn’t new to me. But you’ll have to forgive me for preferring to interact with civilized fans about baseball and wishing for better on this site.
The mute button makes things easy, but I wish it wasn’t necessary.
I admire your aspirations Stevil but I just don’t know if we can get there as a society (look who we managed to elect for example) but we can never give up hope I suppose, even in the darkest hour.
Watch FOX and get a handle on the truth. Other channels are outright dangerous. So many lies and mistruths.I can’t say too much or get banned. Look at both sides and compare. Look what DOGE and Elon are actually doing. Not the whiners getting fired for staying home and getting paid for 5 years s of doing nothing. I know some of them. They have their work phone and they are at work in a movie theater or shopping mall restaurant you name it they are at work as long as they have their phone even in airplane mode.
I knew Stevil would be on to get after you guys about fat jokes he scolded me about *** Danny. I stopped calling him that because it wasn’t nice. Thank Stevil.
He has opt out in his contract more than likely so it nothing more than showcasing to other teams .
Idgaf about Rowdy or Vogelbach but there’s a nonzero chance that every fat joke made on posts related to them was made by the sloppiest slobs that ever lived
So fat slobs can’t joke about fat slobs? You did here the word “joke” right? You think Rowdy is reading these all sad about himself?
The butt of those jokes are professional athletes, the “comedians” are guys sweating as they eat Arbys
I don’t understand the point. Are you saying only skinny people in good health can joke about fat people? You like your comedy when people punch down? Seems mean.
Clearly you don’t understand the point.
Why do fat jokes have to be made at all? Why is that a necessity here? in a baseball enthusiast forum?
Do you not have a capacity for empathy? Can you not keep it to baseball?
I think it’s weird to wonder why people are making jokes on the internet. It’s also weird to pretend I’m supposed to have empathy for Rowdy Tellez. The guy has an amazing life, and could probably give 2 rips what some guys on the internet say about him. You’re being overly sensitive. No one is being hurt here, except maybe you.
Those are rhetorical questions you dolt.
I don’t care about your motivations for being childish. I don’t care about Rowdy Tellez either… The first thing I wrote was idgaf about them.
2 comments ago you’re like “seems mean” and now you’re like “whose it hurting” lol
To quote the great John Kruk,“I ain’t an athlete, lady, I’m a baseball player.
Mariners shoulda accepted the Kody Clemens for Gregory Santos swap the Phillies offered. Not sure this is the answer to their 1B issues.
Raley and Solano are the main 1Bs.
Tacoma needed a DH I suppose. I also don’t see the controversy in the Pirates cutting him a day before his bonus kicked in. He wasn’t good at all. What kind of employer would reward poor performance like that?
I hope he makes the team. I want to cheer
“Let’s get Rowdy Let’s get Rowdy”. I was going to make another joke here but I figured too many wouldn’t get it. I always say if you have to explain the joke it isn’t funny. Does Rowdy like ice cream sandwiches? There I said it but won’t explain it.
LFGM!! OMG!!