Rowdy Tellez DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Seattle Mariners first baseman Rowdy Tellez has made the Opening Day roster and was formally selected to the team's 40-man roster on Tuesday. The Seattle Times' Adam Jude writes that Tellez changed the conversation at first base and designated hitter this spring and has earned a regular role to start the 2025 season. "Rowdy's had an outstanding spring and we're excited to go north with him," manager Dan Wilson said on Monday. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger made the roster over outfielder Mitch Haniger, who was released on Monday. He impressed by hitting .298 (14-for-47) with four doubles, three home runs and five RBI in 16 Cactus League games for the M's. It sounds like Tellez will be in the lineup regular at either first base or DH against right-handed pitchers, giving him some appeal for his power in deep-mixed and AL-only fantasy leagues.

The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent first baseman Rowdy Tellez to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. The Mariners are looking to add a little power at the left side of the plate. Last season, Tellez hit .243/.299/.392 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI across 131 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tellez hasn't quite been the same at the plate over the last two seasons, but he did hit 35 home runs during the 2022 campaign. The Mariners have Luke Raley, Donovan Solano, and Tyler Locklear who are all also fighting for a role at first base in Seattle. Tellez will have an uphill battle ahead of him to earn a spot on the 26-man roster.

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez, catcher Joey Bart and infielder Jared Triolo are all on the bench for the start of Saturday's contest against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Connor Joe is manning first base and batting seventh, Yasmani Grandal is doing the catching and hitting sixth, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa is at third and hitting leadoff against Reds rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder. It will be the fifth time in the last 10 games that Tellez has found himself on the bench, as he has only two hits in his last 25 at-bats over nine games. Kiner-Falefa draws the most DFS intrigue on Saturday against a rookie hurler. Since coming over from the Blue Jays in a deadline trade this summer, IKF has hit .249 (45-for-181) for Pittsburgh with a homer, nine doubles, two triples, 10 RBI and seven stolen bases.