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Isiah Kiner-Falefa ended his 2024 MLB season with the Pittsburgh Pirates after initially starting it with the Toronto Blue Jays. His new team wasn’t the most proactive in terms of bonus opportunities!
IKF was reportedly four plate appearances shy of a $250,000 paycheck with one game left to play. Pirates manager Derek Shelton was apparently unaware of the situation.
IKF sits for game 162 just 4 plate appearances shy of a $250k bonus. https://t.co/VlL2F8aP4c
— Jim Rosati 🏴☠️ (@northsidenotch) September 29, 2024
He omitted the righty from his lineup during the finale before the bonus opportunity was later brought to his attention. He attempted to right his wrong, but Kiner-Falefa opted not to play.
Here was his explanation:
“Last night, got the lineup and I wasn’t in there,” he said. “I had no problem with it… It is what it is. Today, when I got to the field and they found out, they came up to me maybe an hour before the game and they gave me the option. At that point, I kind of already checked out… I didn’t think it was fair to take a spot from one of the young guys – an opportunity to play in Yankee Stadium.
“I got hurt this year… If that doesn’t happen, or if we’re actually in a real race, I crush those incentives… So, at the end of the day, I didn’t feel like I deserved it.”
Isiah Kiner-Falefa didn’t want to take the opportunity away from his teammates. The definition of a team player!
That said, the situation could’ve been avoided had the Pirates been more aware.
The organization is known to pinch pennies, and unfortunately, it’s not the first instance of this kind this year. Pittsburgh designated Rowdy Tellez for assignment before year’s end with the slugger, too, just a handful of plate appearances shy of a six-figure bonus.
It’s becoming a trend!
In Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s case, the organization did attempt to make it right, which was appreciated. Still, it’s not the best look given the outside view of the always-frugal Pirates.