The Pirates drew plenty of scrutiny for designating first baseman Rowdy Tellez for assignment when he was four plate appearances shy of reaching a $200K bonus in his contract, though management has publicly disputed that the bonus had anything to do with the decision. Another Pittsburgh veteran ultimately landed in a similar spot, but infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa tells Alex Stumpf of MLB.com that he declined an opportunity to enter the lineup and collect a $250K bonus. The infielder finished the season at 496 plate appearances, when his contract would’ve afforded him a $250K bonus for reaching 500 trips to the plate. Manager Derek Shelton initially omitted Kiner-Falefa from the Pirates’ Sunday lineup but, upon learning of the looming bonus, attempted to plug the infielder back into the lineup.
“I didn’t think it was fair to take a spot from [Liover Peguero], or one of the young guys, an opportunity to play at Yankee Stadium away from them,” says Kiner-Falefa, whom the Pirates acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline. “I got hurt this year. I missed a month. If that doesn’t happen, or if we’re actually in a real race, I crush those incentives by a long shot. So, at the end of the day, I feel like I didn’t deserve it from that aspect. It’s nothing the team did. They tried to make it right at the end. That meant a lot to me right there. I’m thankful to [Shelton] and the organization to give me that opportunity.”
A couple more interesting contract notes from the final weekend of the season…
- Rangers lefty Andrew Heaney began his final start of the season Sunday at 156 innings, just four frames away from unlocking a $1.5MM bonus in his two-year deal. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News writes that although he was hit hard through the first three innings of the game (seven runs allowed), Heaney was allowed to complete the fourth inning as a reward for the selflessness he’s shown in his two seasons with the club and for the value he’s provided as a teammate in the clubhouse. “[General manager Chris Young] said we are going to do the right things by people, by players and by fans,” Heaney tells Grant. “Chris and [manager] Bruce Bochy are baseball lifers and they understand what it means. I believed everything Chris told me when I signed here. It has been everything he presented and more.” The 33-year-old Heaney finished out the 2024 season with a 4.28 ERA in his 160 frames and logged an overall 4.22 ERA in 307 1/3 innings over his two years in Texas. He’s a free agent this winter.
- Right-hander Chris Flexen has eaten innings at the back of the White Sox’ rotation amid the team’s historically feeble season, and the club made sure in his final start of the season that Flexen was able to reach the final incentive milestone in his one-year, $1.75MM contract, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale points out. Flexen’s deal called for $250K bonuses at each of 75, 100, 125 and 160 innings. The right-hander entered Sunday’s start with 153 2/3 innings under his belt. Flexen made the decision pretty easy for the Sox, as he tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings against the Angels. Still, few would’ve questioned the decision to pull Flexen after six scoreless innings, 88 pitches and a 7-0 lead. But the Sox made sure to send Flexen back out for the seventh and only lifted him after he’d recorded that first out to get him to that 160-inning threshold. He finished out the season with a 4.95 ERA, leading the team in innings and ranking second to Garrett Crochet with 30 starts. Flexen will head back to free agency this winter.
pohle
i understand the contract the jays gave ikf two years ago a bit more now. never followed him too closely, but he has a capable mindset. if he were on a playoff team’s bench, i think that team would feel pretty comfortable with 2/10 although i dont think he will obtain any more than that this winter.
YourDreamGM
Not a free agent and 15m
pohle
thank you, hungover, forgive me. 2/10 does sound reasonable though, doesnt it?
UncleJesse
I have always enjoyed watching Isiah Kiner-Falefa play. I wouldn’t mind seeing him suit for my Giants in the future in a super utility role. He is a class act and a team player who did not deserve the criticism he received while playing for the Yankees.
Joe says...
Agreed. Unfortunately he was a victim of circumstance when he went to the Yankees. With all the great shortstops available at the time they went with him as a placeholder for Volpe.
TheMan 3
he might be a class act but his offensive numbers playing in Pittsburgh weren’t anything to write home
41ks vs 3 walks
10 rbi
and this is in 50 games
his ope was lower in Pittsburgh than in Toronto and he batted 29 points less in Pittsburgh than Toronto, .293 to . 265
UncleJesse
Hello TheMan 3 – As I said in my initial reply I’d like to have him as a super utility player. He is capable of playing multiple positions (including catcher if a team needs one in a unique situation). That is certainly valuable in today’s game. I understand your concerns with his offensive abilities but he has never really been a threat at the plate.
mlb1225
One thing of note is that the Blue Jays would be on the hook for most of the bonus. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jays had a say in him reaching his bonus or not.
johnrealtime
How would they have a say?
mlb1225
I read that they didn’t have full responsibility over the decision.
YourDreamGM
So if Sunday was win and the Pirates are in the playoffs they could have been without their starting ss because Toronto said no?
Shelton offered to put IKF in the lineup. He didn’t ask Toronto if they wanted him to play they asked IKF. What if he said yes? Well don’t suit up yet we have to ask Toronto. Oh dear. I was hoping you would say no.
LordD99
There’s an obvious and more direct way for the Pirates to make it right: pay him the bonus.
Monkey’s Uncle
There’s an obvious and more direct way for the Pirates to make it right: change ownership.
Fixed it for you. 😉
TheMan 3
yeah like Nutting is going to give $250k if he doesn’t have to
StudWinfield
Must be nice to be able to tell $250k to go pound sand.
thickiedon
Especially when he could’ve gifted part of the bonus to younger players and charity
gbs42
He worked hard his whole life to get to the point that he’s earned nearly $21M, so giving another player the chance to start a game at Yankee Stadium was a nice gesture.
This one belongs to the Reds
You have to give him credit for thinking of other things than the money. Few would do that in this day and age.
BigV
Much respect to IKF.
Billg7987
Come on IKF. I get that he didn’t want to take the start from the rookie, but it’s your money, you all but earned it. The rook will get plenty of other opportunities. Collect the money and give it to charity. It’s only collecting moss in Nutting’s pocket.
stymeedone
“You all but earned it”
Key word: but
Even IKF agreed with the result.
Scott Kliesen
IKF is a stand up guy. A true Pro. Wish I could say the same for the Owner and GM.
YourDreamGM
Way it seems to me. He wasn’t in the lineup. Went to bed thinking cheap pieces of. Media reports bonus. Hour before game they are like we were trying to get our young players this critical important 1 game playing time but if you want your bonus we will find a spot for you.
I would have said find me a spot. He already checked out and turned it down.
Listen to his interview. He said all rhe right things. But it’s how he said them.
jdgoat
Good gestures all around. Worth noting that these were incentives though. I’m sure if vesting options were on the line the teams would have made the cold (and correct) decisions to make sure they didn’t hit.
Dice 66
Pirates need alot of help! I look for Keller and Peguero to be traded maybe blockbuster to shake things up.