PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with first baseman/designated hitter Rowdy Tellez.
Tellez, 28, can earn $800,000 in performance bonuses as part of the deal, which is pending a successful physical.
Also, catcher Endy Rodríguez will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right elbow.
The team announced Rodríguez had surgery Tuesday after he was injured taking a swing while playing in the Dominican Republic. The estimated recovery time is 10-12 months.
The 23-year-old Rodríguez is considered a major part of the Pirates’ future after making his major league debut in July. He hit .220 with 3 home runs and 13 RBIs in 57 games.
Rodríguez is a work in progress as a receiver but did throw out nine of 30 potential base stealers.
The Pirates had expected Rodríguez to take on the bulk of the catching load in 2024. Now, they’ll likely turn to former top overall draft pick Henry Davis, Jason Delay and perhaps recently signed Ali Sanchez behind the plate.
Davis spent most of his 2023 rookie season playing right field. Sanchez signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh on Dec. 1.
As for Tellez, the left-hander hit .215 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs for Milwaukee in 2023. He is a career .233 hitter in six seasons with Toronto and Milwaukee.
The Pirates entered the offseason in need of help at first base. They began 2022 with Carlos Santana at the position before sending him to Milwaukee at the trade deadline. Connor Joe and Jared Triolo saw time at first, among others, over the final two months of the season.
Tellez should find the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park inviting. He is a career .277 hitter at PNC Park, with 5 home runs and 20 RBIs in 21 games.
Tellez is the second significant addition by the Pirates during free agency. Pittsburgh acquired left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales from Seattle last week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.