The Angels announced they’ve signed veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar to a major league contract. He steps into an outfield that just lost Mike Trout for at least 4-6 weeks to knee surgery. Pillar is represented by All Bases Covered Sports Management.
Pillar spent last season with the Braves, where current Halos skipper Ron Washington was on staff as third base coach. He held his roster spot with Atlanta all season despite a tepid .228/.248/.416 batting line over 206 plate appearances. That’s in large part a testament to the regard with which he was held in the Braves clubhouse. Pillar signed a one-year deal with the White Sox for 2024 but turned in a .160/.290/.360 slash in 32 trips to the plate.
The Sox designated him for assignment last week when they added Tommy Pham onto the big league roster. Pillar cleared waivers and became a free agent, but it didn’t take long for him to get another MLB job. He adds a right-handed complement to Mickey Moniak, who is in line for the majority of the center field reps while Trout is on the injured list. Pillar is no longer a high-end defender in center field, but he’s capable of playing all three outfield spots.
Taylor Ward and Jo Adell will take the majority of the corner outfield reps. Moniak is off to a very slow start, hitting .143/.200/.214 in 60 plate appearances. Pillar will serve as a fourth outfielder alongside infield/outfield hybrids like Cole Tucker and potentially Luis Rengifo, who played 134 innings on the grass a year ago.
There’s no financial downside for the Halos. Pillar will only cost them the prorated $740K league minimum for whatever time he spends on the roster.
Could put Rendon on the 60-day
maybe trout goes to the 60, maybe suarez is finally dfa’d? maybe kristofak was just up for a cup of coffee? i agree with no jordyn adams, but if cole tucker is up then why not jason martin? gotta be better than the white sox castoffs
amir garrett came up so we have to make room for him too, suarez should definitely go but we will still need one more spot
Might as well called up Jake Marisnick.
hes on the minor league IL, otherwise he probably wouldve gotten the call
Agreed probably should’ve made the team over hicks he knows his role plays hard could be a decent bench piece. Signing pillar is like resigning hicks.
Aaron hicks is better
Hurry up and cut Suarez
I wonder if one of the problems is that some of these players are overweight. They need to thin down if they want to fly around the bases like they did 10 years ago.
Pillar wasn’t ever a base stealer but he’s slowed down considerably at 35. He looks fit, just not 25 years old anymore.
Never? When he was a Blue Jay I once watched him steal 2nd, 3rd, and home in one inning.
They actually found someone worse than Easy Out Moniak. That takes real talent
Adell and Moniak should play every day. The season is sunk, find out how the kids do.
I am decidedly not a fan of Moniak, but I agree 100%. Now is exactly the perfect time to find out if the kids can play.
Adell should’ve started every game. In a way, the angels are lucky that Hicks has been this bad, or Adell would’ve ridden the bench the entire year.
Are Moniak and Adele still considered kids?
Amazing that Pillar gets so many chances despite sucking. Wonder why
“Gets so many chances…wonder why”..Pillar has a reputation and track record of being a good defender, teammate, offensive contributor with a little speed and a solid, well liked clubhouse guy. What else do you want to know, Liberal Steve?
Check out the video of when Odor popped Bautista. just watch Pillar that’s a man out for blood no baseball hugging match. He’s a gamer to the core.
I keep saying DH Trout to at least limit his exposure to possibly getting injured.
He was DH last night when he got hurt.
“He was DH last night”..I’m not sure it’s 100 percent clear when exactly Trout was hurt, but in yesterday’s game Mike Trout was in centerfield and I don’t believe he was ever removed for injury.
He was “hurt” when Rendon went down and he was the only legitimate bat in the lineup like last year when he ended his season when it was announced that Ohtani needed TJ surgery
He could still get hurt at DH too but if he was a full time DH he’d still be extremely valuable and could focus more on hitting and would be less fatigued which is a big contributor to injuries. He is still a great defensive center fielder which is extremely valuable but only if he can stay on the field.
Being an Angels fan has been soooo painful for the last 10 years or so.
The Moreno curse
Perry Minasian really Kevin Pillar is that the better you can do
what day is trash day?
Hey Arte Moreno
What day do they pick up trash?
Never too late to sell you probably lost about 25% of value
I don’t watch their games, but is the Adell breakout really happening?
This year why do Angel TV announcers keep on giving the exit velo for every sharply hit ball even if it’s an out? The team sucks so bad it’s like Ogilvie from Bad News Bears telling the team they at least got some balls in play when getting no-hit.
What else do you suggest they talk about?! They’re running out of ideas.
This guy is over the hill. Why sign him? Makes no sense.
Check the 5/7 box score.
Pillar is a platoon batter only and can play better defense than many. Good inexpensive signing. Angels are winning nothing anyway this year.
Can he pitch? Maybe he can be the closer.
Spider-man – Spiderman …..
Immaculate Grid legend
Not surprised at this move as Ron Washington seen 1st hand from Pillar being with the Braves last year! Not a big BA guy, but comes through in the clutch. Will absolutely run through a fence or into a wall to make a catch! A nice late inning defensive replacement or rotational outfield depth.
Worse things for the Angels than a replacement level 5th OFer.
Though… 5 PA and he’s already at –0.1 bWAR for LAA. Ugh.