Free Agent Slugger Rowdy Tellez Lands Deal With NL Contender

After a strong finish to the 2025 season with the Texas Rangers, Rowdy Tellez was hoping to land a free agent deal this past offseason. It's finally materialized, less than a week before Opening Day. Tellez has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves.

Rowdy Tellez to Braves. Minors deal.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 21, 2026

He will likely start the year with the Braves' affiliate at Triple-A Gwinnett, but he'll act as insurance for the big club if first baseman Matt Olson were to go down to injury.

Tellez split his time last season between the Seattle Mariners and the Rangers, with a slash line of .228/.276/.443 across 312 total plate appearances, for an OPS of .719. He was released by the M's midway through the campaign.

But it was his time with Texas after signing with them in July that he had an impact. In 50 games (127 plate appearances), he hit six home runs with 22 RBIs with a .772 OPS and a 124 OPS+.

He appeared for Mexico at the just-completed World Baseball Classic, going 1-for-9 with two walks and two strikeouts, while scoring on a memorable two-run double that plated both he and Alejandro Kirk.

THE TORTA TWINS🌮

Alejandro Kirk and Rowdy Tellez are everyone’s favorite duo at the the World Baseball Classicpic.twitter.com/tMLHXpErpZ
— Bet105 (@bet_105) March 4, 2026

Tellez started his career with 3 1/2 seasons in Toronto with the Blue Jays, before moving onto the Milwaukee Brewers. He broke out in a big way in 2022, when he slugged 35 home runs for Milwaukee, with 89 RBIs.

He broke into the majors with Toronto with a 21 home run rookie season in 2019. 2020 was a terrific year as well for Tellez, but it was unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic. He registered a career-high .886 OPS with eight homers and 23 RBIs in 35 games. He slugged .540.

He'll be a nice bit of insurance and organizational depth for the Braves.