Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB free agency: Landing spots for Kevin Pillar

By Jack Trent Dorfman

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Kevin Pillar #1 of the San Francisco Giants bats during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Giants defeated the Dodgers 5-4. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Kevin Pillar #1 of the San Francisco Giants bats during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Giants defeated the Dodgers 5-4. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
(Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) /

Philadelphia Phillies

One of the clearest fits for Kevin Pillar is in Philadephia. The Phillies, fresh off of adding Zach Wheeler to the starting rotation, recently cut Odubel Herrera. Without Herrera, who had been suspended due to a domestic violence case in 2019, the Phillies still have Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen roaming the outfield.

The pair of former MVPs are still big-time hitters, but neither have the defensive skill to man center field. Even if Pillar’s defense has taken a slight step back, Pillar would provide an upgrade for the Phils in the middle of their outfield. Fangraphs (Roster Resource) has the Phillies starting Adam Haseley, their 23-year old eighth-overall pick from the 2017 draft.

Haseley struggled to provide power from the left side of the plate during his 67-game cup of coffee with Philadelphia last season, slugging below .400 and finishing with just 5 home runs in 242 at-bats. Haseley also struck out almost 25% of the time, which is fairly consistent with his numbers in the minor leagues.

Pillar strikes out less than 15% of the time, while providing similar speed and centerfield defense to Haseley. If the Phillies truly want to win now, signing Pillar, even to a one-year deal could prove beneficial. Pillar and Haseley could platoon and take turns spelling McCutchen and Harper on their days off.

Roman Quinn, the current backup outfielder for the Phillies, is not an MLB-ready talent as of yet. Over the last 94 games he’s spent in the majors (over two seasons), Quinn managed to pop only six home runs, though he did steal 18 bases in that time. Even if Quinn (a switch hitter) stays on the roster, he and Haseley can work as bench bats and as starters against especially tough right-handed pitchers.

The Phillies will need a complete lineup to take on the starting rotations of the New York Mets, Washington Nationals, and the Atlanta Braves, and signing Kevin Pillar could help fill any remaining gaps.

Home/San Francisco Giants