The Blue Jays announced that they’ve placed center fielder Kevin Pillar on the 10-day disabled list with a right sternoclavicular joint sprain. They also sent infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to the seven-day concussion DL and activated a pair of pitchers – righty Ryan Tepera and lefty Jaime Garcia.
Pillar, the most prominent of the quartet, is expected to miss four to six weeks, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com tweets. The defensive whiz suffered the injury while making a diving catch against Boston on Saturday, and it could have been a lot worse. Blue Jays trainer Nikki Huffman told radio play-by-play man Mike Wilner that Pillar’s injury could have been a life-threatening one had his collarbone pushed in rather than out.
While Pillar nearly put his life on the line to make yet another impressive play Saturday, he surprisingly hasn’t drawn elite reviews from defensive metrics this season. After racking up at least 14 Defensive Runs Saved in center in each of the previous three seasons, he’s at zero in 2018, though Ulimate Zone Rating (2.7) and Outs Above Average (four) have liked his work better.
With Toronto at 43-51 and well out of playoff contention, Pillar’s absence won’t have a great effect on the club in the standings. And though the Blue Jays are in line to sell at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, Pillar’s name hasn’t come up in trade rumors. The 29-year-old, who’s on a $3.25MM salary, still has two arbitration-eligible seasons remaining.
I’m an O’s fan, but man what a joy it’s been to watch this guy play the field. Best of luck to him on a speedy recovery!!
Think about this; Jays front office didn’t think he was a CF back in 2015. They had Anthony Gose and Dalton Pompey ahead of him, and Pillar started in LF in 2015. They were also thinking about cutting Pillar in 2015 spring training until Michael Saunders suffered an injury. The Blue Jays lucked out.
Depends on how you define “lucked out.” While he does put up highlight reel catches he’s not exactly an ideal center fielder for me. He doesn’t have a great first step and doesn’t take the greatest routes. He’s not “speedy.” But what he lacks in those areas he makes up for in great athleticism. His bat isn’t exactly something to write home about either. He’s basically an upgraded Ryan Goins in the outfield which, by definition, is definitely replaceable.
That would explain why his Defensive Runs is at zero. Thanks!
Lucked out is defined as the organization believing Dalton Pompey, Michael Saunders and Anthony Gose were far and away better options than Pillar. Seeing you didn’t read my comment properly, I thought I’d say it a second time to make sure you know I meant it the first time.
He’s an 8 or 9 hole hitter on a good team. Jays aren’t good.
Pillar’s route running is a lot better than you think. He is not speedy, as you pointed out. He makes up for it with routes. A bad route runner with ok speed does not make the catches Pillar makes. Your comment is what is called a contradiction.
Every team that’s not the Yanks and Red Sox in the AL East exist only for those two teams to eat them. Whole.
Not really. The O’s have pushed them for several years (before their deterioration) and will do so again. As will the others. Tough division—not just because of Yanks and Sox.
I wouldn’t call the few years under Buck where they were competitive “several years”
There goes my #1 trade dream.
Could have been life threatening…. were he not Superman!
Defensive metrics are laughable. One year a player is a top defender and then the next year he’s average to below average? Lol. Don’t like Pillar especially, but I always chuckle at these sabr discrepancies, particularly on defense.
Agree 100%. Marcus Semien had a higher dWAR than Didi a few seasons ago around June. Semien leads the league in errors with 16(?) and at the time needed a refresh on how to play SS. What a joke.
It isn’t all that uncommon for a player to have an off year offensively.
Wouldn’t the same be true for defensive performance?
In my experience as a player and observer of baseball, defense is a relatively steady aspect for any player, especially outfielders. When defensive metrics claims Pillar went from a top defender to a horrendous one in a year’s time, it is ridiculous.
Offensive production is more difficult to replicate year after year due to a variety of reasons. I’ve never played with, nor watched any MLB player, rise and fall defensively the way sabermetrics often claims.
The only way I see a player decline precipitously on the defensive side of the game is at the end of his career.
The GM of my favorite team, the Yankees – who are very sabr heavy – doesn’t judge defense based on metrics, as he has stated they have a long way to go in that regard.
Pillar does tend to make a ton of horrendous throws though. He quite often cuts a ball off in the gap only to turn and fire it without looking and miss the cutoff man. I’m not sure if that type of thing plays into defensive metrics, but after he started getting attention for his defence, he seems to rush throws a lot more often.
Pillar is a great center fielder and would be on my team.
Except for days off, Pillar has been penciled-in in most games as an automatic for the Jays.
This guy is money.
Godspeed on healing.
Big time. He’s come a heck of a long way the last 5 years. I do not care if he doesn’t walk; the dude plays hard, makes plays in CF we haven’t seen since Devon White (sorry Vernon Wells), and he’s overcome obstacle the front office has put in-front of him.
If you want your team to be a contender then Pillar should be a very good 4th outfielder for your team. Any higher and you’re not really contending- more like pretending.
i’m a jays fan and pillars bat will always be a liability in that line up.
he makes some highlight reel grabs but that’s not enough- this is a hitters game first.
if he could bring his BA up .20-.30 and be consistent from the lead off that would give him a lot more value.
He’s a guy that should bat 8 or 9 on a good team. Jays aren’t a good team and Pillar bats higher.