10:49am: The clubs are close on some kind of trade, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports on Twitter.
It’s frankly possible to imagine a variety of scenarios. Speculatively, the Giants could send some veteran pitching to Toronto, or the potential transaction could involve prospects or even other teams.
10:45am: The Giants are engaged with the Blue Jays in trade talks regarding Toronto outfielder Kevin Pillar, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link). It’s not clear how likely a deal is at this point.
This is hardly a typical time of year for swaps to come together, except in cases of 40-man roster casualties. But there may yet be some unfinished business around the league. These two organizations are among several that could conceivably allow the offseason to drag into the 2019 campaign. Neither figures to contend this year, but both have significant resources and are surely interested in finding creative ways to improve their outlook for the near future.
Pillar has been on the Giants’ radar for some time now. He’s a defensive standout who hasn’t managed to produce consistently at the plate. With a $5.8MM salary, Pillar isn’t cheap but is also a rather affordable asset for teams in these tax brackets. He’s controllable via arbitration for one more season to come.
Kevin Pillar is someone I always hate to see when they play the Yankees. Dudes a beast.
Your standards must be really low, because the dude is a below average player.
Being a Jays fan. I appreciate the kind words for Pillar.
But Beast?
Hes below average with the bat and currently slightly above average defensively
If we can get SF to take him. Do it!
Always seemed to play well against the Yankees
Pillar was a beast in AAA. You know who isn’t? Alford. Now a guy overmatched in AAA gets an opportunity in the major leagues. Can’t wait.
That changed quickly via Brito acquisition
That’s what he meant. He turns it up a notch against the Yankees.
Duggar is the only young outfielder on the team. Giants need a power hitter besides Belt there is very little power in that lineup.
Like Pillar from a fan standpoint but yes, make room for Alford.
Done. Hanson and Law going to TOR. Reed DFAd.
Seems like Giants really swung the best end of this deal.
Won’t get away with any slurs in San Francisco.
Get a deal done jays. Let’s eat that salary and officially be paying more for players to play for other teams than our own. Current jays payroll is roughly 65 million and are paying an additional near 60 for players to play elsewhere
Wow! Poor planning?
Why do fans still not understand tanking? I bet you think finishing 6th place in either league is great, when in fact it’s the worst spot to finish. It’s better to be last than be 6th in the league and miss the playoffs by a game. It’s not hard to figure out.
Don’t do it Giants.
“This is hardly a typical time of year for swaps to come together”
Yeah, except teams seemingly started their offseason planning in January so you get this
Pillar is as overrated as they come,
Pillar might not want to call people the F word in San Francisco like he did in Toronto.