The Mariners announced that they have selected the contract of first baseman Rowdy Tellez. The roster already had a couple of vacancies from losing Seth Martinez off waivers and releasing Mitch Haniger. Their 40-man count goes from 38 to 39 with the Tellez move. Now that he’s been added to the 40-man roster, Tellez will earn a $1.5MM salary, as reported by Jack Magruder for MLB.com.
Tellez, who turned 30 during camp, signed a minor league deal in late February and has mashed his way into the team’s plans with a big spring performance. He’s tallied 50 plate appearances across 16 games and turned in a .298/.320/.574 batting line with three homers and four doubles. He’s only drawn one walk, but he’s also fanned a reasonable nine times (18%).
That performance from Tellez, coupled with a brutal spring from Haniger, forced the Mariners to cut ties with Haniger — a player the organization is very fond of but whose contract has become an albatross in the wake of a series of career-altering injuries. Haniger, if healthy and productive, would’ve been a favorite for playing time at DH and occasionally in right field. Instead, Tellez will now see ample time at designated hitter and likely log some games at first base in a timeshare with Luke Raley.
Tellez has had an up-and-down career, delivering huge production in both 2020 and 2022 but also posting several below-average years at the plate. He popped 35 homers with the Brewers in ’22 but has followed that up with 772 plate appearance and a .231/.295/.385 slash in the two years since (85 wRC+). The Mariners have been searching high and low for reliable power bats for years, however, as their home environment at T-Mobile Park is the least hitter-friendly venue in the sport. Tellez will bring significant power but a mercurial, at best, track record to the lineup as the M’s look to return to the postseason after last year’s narrow miss and continue to build on the late-season offensive gains they enjoyed following a shuffle of the dugout staff.
How’s this guy keep making rosters while someone like JD Martinez is unsigned.
Most MLB teams don’t carry DH only players and use the DH spot to keep other position players days off in the field but to still keep their bat in the line up.
I bet rowdy doesn’t play a much better 1B than JD could
Im guessing Martinez either wants a lot of money or wants to retire. Same with David Robertson. Or maybe they only want to play wherever there family is. I dont know what they want, but clearly something.
It’s a mystery.
Rowdy is cheaper and a lefty bat.
JD expects $10mm or more. Tellez plays for 1/5 of that.
Cheap ownership groups might have something to do with it.
Stevil
Exactly, that is why the Pirates signed him last year. Would take less than Santana.
“Someone like J.D”…We all know that J.D still expects to be paid like vintage J.D, when apparently, he’s well past his expiration date.
Rowdy apparently has a more realistic view of his intrinsic value. Do you think it’s a mere coincidence that J.D is a Boras guy?
$
Because JD isn’t signing a minors deal for 1.5 IF he makes the roster. It’s really pretty simple.
It comes down to “can he produce better then either Mitch’s did last year “
Teams keep giving this guy chances for the marketing opportunities around his fake first name.
What?
His legal name is Ryan
He stinks, everyone in Pgh knows that
This was the right move for Seattle given their internal options.
But a late NRI making the team speaks volumes of the lack of depth Seattle has. Nobody should have high expectations of Tellez.
It’s maddening that a lack of depth has arguably cost them post season appearances the last couple of years, yet here they are again (cue someone lecturing me on the incoming impact of Young and Ford).
The lack of depth isn’t limited to position players, either. Vargas and Bazardo are likely making the team. Kowar and Brash will eventually (hopefully) return, but this is the worst bullpen depth they’ve had in a while. Fans should be just as concerned with the relief pitching as they are with the hitting.
Whether Tellez is successful or unsuccessful, you’re right. Dumb luck isn’t really a good strategy, nor is it even remotely sustainable. I hope Rowdy hits 40, but let’s look at the team on May 1 to see if everyone on this roster should be on any roster.
Welcome on board! Now let’s get Rowdy!!! Woooooooooo!!!!!!
Poor man’s Mike Ford
He’s actually a rich man’s Mike Ford.
Maybe he’ll have a hot streak and stay on the team for a bit. Seems like a desperation move to me though. This guy has a looong track record of replacement level production. Most likely a waste of money.
The latest in a long line of Jerry’s kids. I doubt Rowdy’s on the Mariners by June 1.
This could signal the Mariners are gaming park factors with a new lens. T-Mobile Park suppresses batting average and on-base percentage more than raw power (it’s the least hitter-friendly park in MLB). Tellez’s .574 spring slugging, even with a .320 OBP, fits a profile that thrives in this context—maximize extra-base hits, accept the strikeouts, and ignore batting average.