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Kevin Pillar Traded to the San Francisco Giants

By Manny Gómez

TORONTO, ON- MARCH 31 - Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar (11) as the Toronto Blue Jays fall to the Detroit Tigers 4-3 in 11 innings at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. March 31, 2019. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON- MARCH 31 - Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar (11) as the Toronto Blue Jays fall to the Detroit Tigers 4-3 in 11 innings at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. March 31, 2019. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that they had traded outfielder Kevin Pillar to the San Francisco Giants. Here’s everything you need to know about the trade.

Newly acquired by the San Francisco Giants, Kevin Pillar is mostly known for his outstanding plays in the outfield, which oddly enough, quite accurately exemplifies his entire existence in MLB. Drafted 979th overall in the 2011 June Amateur Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, Pillar hustled his way to the majors where he has remained over the last SIX seasons.

In exchange for Pillar, the Blue Jays will receive INF Alen Hanson, RHP Derek Law, and RHP Juan De Paula. Most importantly, however, the Jays will make room in the outfield for prospect Anthony Alford.

In Pillar, the Giants receive a veteran outfield who can cover a lot of ground. During the offseason, the team had kicked around a couple of ideas, including trading albatross contracts with the Yankees. They also toyed with the idea of signing Bryce Harper. Neither of those ideas panned out, as we now know.

In Pillar, not only do the Giants get an elite defender, they save a lot of money too.

Currently, Pillar is arbitration eligible and is expected to make $5.8M this season. He isn’t expected to hit free agency until 2021, therefore he will remain a member of the San Francisco Giants for the remainder of this season and next season

San Francisco Giants fans shouldn’t expect too much from Pillar offensively. For his career, Pillar has presented mostly as a singles hitter with doubles power. In fact, last season he posted career highs in doubles (40) and RBIs (59).

Defensively, however, Pillar is ranked 7th among all CF’s in baseball with a 4.3 Def rating and UZR (2.5).

This season, in 5 games, Pillar is 1/16. A change in scenery might be just what the doctor ordered for the veteran.

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