The Dodgers have signed veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar to a minor league contract, per a club announcement. Pillar, a client of All Bases Covered Sports Management, will head to Major League Spring Training and vie for a roster spot. He’d earn a $2.5MM base salary upon making the club, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
Pillar, 33, is a veteran of nine big league seasons who’ll hope to work his way into the outfield mix in Los Angeles. He spent the 2021 season with the Mets, batting .231/.277/.415 with 15 home runs, 11 doubles, a pair of triples and four stolen bases (in seven tries) through 347 trips to the plate. That was the fifth team in the past three seasons for Pillar, who’s begun to bounce around the league a bit after a lengthier run in Toronto to begin his career.
A former 32nd-round pick of the Blue Jays (2011), Pillar debuted just two years after being drafted. He saw sparing action in 2013-14 before settling in as a fixture in center field with the Jays from 2015-18. Pillar was Toronto’s primary center fielder for that span of four years, batting a combined .263/.301/.401 while regularly showing off his penchant for highlight-reel diving grabs.
For the bulk of his career, Pillar had the power, speed and certainly the defensive chops to offset a perennially low walk rate that tamped down his on-base percentage each year. From 2015-17, in particular, Pillar was a defensive juggernaut, racking up a ridiculous 52 Defensive Runs Saved with a 24.3 Ultimate Zone Rating. Pillar was snubbed in Gold Glove voting more than once in that stretch, and by 2018, the reckless abandon with which he played the outfield perhaps began to take its toll. His defensive metrics in center quickly went south in 2018, and by 2019 the Jays had designated him for assignment.
Pillar has since spent time in San Francisco, Colorado, Boston and Queens. Over the past three seasons, he’s batted .256/.293/.433 (90 wRC+) with 42 home runs and 23 steals. He’s been better against left-handed pitching in that time, as one would expect for a right-handed hitter, posting a .279/307/.499 batting line. Pillar’s average sprint speed has dipped a bit in recent years, though, and Statcast suggests that his initial jump on fly-balls has also slowed as he’s progressed into his 30s. He’s still posted solid defensive marks in the corners, however.
On the whole, Pillar isn’t the dynamic highlight-reel machine that he was during his peak with the Jays, but he’s a decent bat against left-handed pitching who has some pop against righties and can play all three outfield spots (even if he’s below average in center at this point). That’s a nice bench player for a contending club, but the Dodgers have a crowded outfield mix as it it. Beyond the starting trio of Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger and AJ Pollock, L.A. also has versatile superutility man Chris Taylor and infielder/outfielder Matt Beaty as outfield options. Top infield prospect Gavin Lux has begun to see time in the outfield as well, and the Dodgers also invited outfielders Stefen Romero and Jason Martin to spring training after signing them to minor league deals.
Great guy
With more prominent names off the board, was hoping for a Red Sox reunion as that righty bat to share time with JBJ. Not a bad reserve outfielder to have.
Wow, the Phillies needed him to play center field or to get some playing time there. The super team just got even better with 8 all stars in their lineup and three mvp in the team.
You forgot one
Kershaw Betts Bellinger Friedman
*Freeman 🙂
Has all the intangibles.
Unfortunately though, his tangibles have fallen off quite a bit.
Have glove, will travel.
Giants fan cry for him.
I wanted the Phillies to sign him for defense. Oh well. Dodgers get even deeper.
I told my Philly friend that I wanted him for the RS. He said that the Phillies were an even better fit for him, and I agree. Maybe I am missing something, but how do the Phillies not put down $1M+ for this guy?
He ended up getting paid 2.5MM. Maybe they got out bid. Haha.
Having watched him for only last season, I’d say that it’s because he’s got a very generalized skillset that isn’t very good.
Not great filling a specific role (I.e. speed, defense, avg, power) and also not great generally. He’s someone you’d put in the of every day when 3+ are injured, and I think that’s reflected in his deal.
Another hometown boy coming home
This is one of those guys who plays better than his stats show. I know the low OBP is seen as a demerit, but the guy is solid in the field and can get key hits. I was kinda shocked to see a minor league deal only (thus far).
His offense was always just playable enough to be a regular given his great defense. If one or the other slipped just a little, he was pretty much just a 4th outfielder. He’s 33 now and is no longer the fielder he was with the Jays, so I can see why he got a non-guarenteed deal.
I like the idea of Kevin Pillar but this wasn’t true in 2021, hustle not withstanding. Easy guy to root for, but he was more or less a AAAA player and that’s reflected in this deal.
With the benefit of hindsight, the Mets would have been better served by a longer look at Khalil Lee.
Would’ve much rather seen the Phillies sign him vs bringing back Herrera.
Herrera was likely cheaper believe it or not, but yeah. I agree.
Herrera got a major league deal (1..7 million) Pillar’s is a minor league deal. Considerably less….. for now and until he makes the 26 man roster where it would go up.
Yeah good points, but should he inevitably get called up, he gets 2.5MM which is more than Herrera is making. Keep in mind Herrera was a 1.8 WAR player in 2021. Pillar was a 0.5. So maybe that was the Phillies thinking here.
I am still shocked that Phillies did not get Kevin Kiermaier! Maybe with Christopher Sanchez having a Rays’ reunion? But Odubel seems to close that door.
As a Cardinals fan it is like looking into Harrison Bader’s future after a few years of his rough style of play slow him down. Don’t get me wrong, he is great right now and a super good deal for the money. But no 6 year extension or anything like that, please.
This is very upsetting news for Mets fans. Pillar is tough as nails and a great clubhouse guy. Surprised he needed to take a minor league deal.
In regards to the clubhouse, Pillar was one of the thumbs-down crew. Mets got rid of all them except Lindor who is unmovable for a variety of reasons.
What’s a thumbs down crew
There was a group of players who started booing their fans when they felt the fans were booing them inappropriately. So whenever these players would celebrate a base hit or something of that nature, they would give their own fanbase a thumbsdown. It was all much ado about nothing, but the press got wind of it and the fanbase was pretty upset. Rumors swirled about clubhouse issues. Lindor, Baez and Pillar were the biggest “culprits.” Mets swept it under the rug as best as possible. Now 2 of the big 3 thumbsdown crew are on other teams, and the Mets have a completely different roster ready to compete.
I don’t bring it up because it’s a big deal. It’s not a big deal at all. It won’t impact the Dodgers in the least, but rather a brief anecdote about clubhouse presence. I personally love Pillar.
Not really a spot for him on the Mets
Minor league deal at this time is most likely just so the team doesn’t have to create a 40 man opening until next month.
Most of the Dodgers bench is LH so he may see some time on the roster.
He would have fit in nicely with the Marlins, who are looking for a center fielder
See you at Canter’s Deli on Fairfax Kevin , welcome home.
Go easy on the mustard buddy.
I’m guessing he’s not going to see your comment
Wish he did , great guy , nothin more I’d like to do than have a nice lunch with Kev. Great stories. Hope he makes an impact on the Dodgers.
I know you’re joking but I get the feeling that players are specifically advised to avoid these sites.
Guy was amazing to watch in the field in Toronto. Hope he makes majors roster, the glove is still the real deal. He will dive for more balls then anyone in the bigs, doesn’t matter the score.
It was crazy in the AL East with Kevin K, JBJ and Pillar all in their prime.
Not a bad depth move at all. Can be a late inning defensive replacement or be used as a PH against LHP. and a good back up in case of…………injuries : (
Not wishing injury but he be good if you know aj hurt or Cody has shoulder issues again
Yeah, but who would he be a “defensive replacement” for? All the dodgers OFers are solid defenders. Bellinger, Betts… Maybe he is a defensive replacement for Pollock occasionally?
The whole “late inning defense replacement” thing is overblown anyway. How much of a difference can one inning of defense every few games make? It’s a move you have to make if you can, but not a reason to carry a player.
Good depth move. He a true 4th of if he on the roster .
Am l the only one who is feeling truly sorry for the Orioles to be in the same division as those teams? They have zero chance of winning for the next five years or even more.
I felt more sorry for them being hamstrung by Chris Davis mega contract….they seem not to evaluate their minors players enough for a team being a bottom feeder for so long. If a team needed a revamp of front office its them
Owner did the Davis contract, not the baseball people. They actually are trying to build a farm. Unfortunately, they will be paying Davis Bonilla-style , until 2037..
Signing a minor league deal after declining a player option for $2.9M with the Mets.
Wasn’t he traded to SanFran?
Just checked. Yea. He wasn’t released by Toronto. He was traded
I like Pillar. Good veteran to have on a club. There a lots of current outfielders and prospects he can still outplay.
He’s another outfield option for those games when Mookie Betts plays 2nd base.
Given Mookie’s hip issues last season i wouldn’t expect him to play a lot of 2B
Was hoping the Mets would bring him back for depth.
Pillar is by no means a superstar but is a more than capable backup. The fact he had to take a minor league deal convinced me that GM’s just aren’t watching games. They can’t be, or they’d realize how valuable a guy like this is.
I’m glad he’s not on the Mets this year.
Very happy for Pillar, but not very happy that he’s on the Dodgers
Good backup to have and a guy who can play regularly if injuries happen
*love* this guy
True that on stats not reflecting his value. If he doesn’t make it right out of camp, Pillar is a guy who does the little things to help a team during the “dog days”.
What does that even mean?
Lol.
What “little things” does he do? Does he bring in slurpees for day games? Does he send out motivational emails?
Easy guy to root for. Just not all that good a player anymore.
If you ever happen upon Calavaras County, he’ll provide the frog
This means one thing: Freidman was as frustrated as me with watching Luke Raley, Billy McKinney, Steven Souza Jr., Zach Reks and DJ Peters getting meaningful at bats last year!
There are really only two bench spots available – if the rosters stay at 26 players – and a lot of options:
On the 40:
Beatty – L
Rios – L
McKinstry -L
Outman -L
In camp:
Lamb – L
Pillar – R
Alberto (assuming Visa resolution) – S
Martin – L
Romero – R
Well i think this was more a preventative move to getting Billy McKinny or Yoshi Tsutsugo back – lol. They were much worse than the guys currently on the roster