In MLBTR’s recent projection of arbitration salaries for the 2020 season, Giants outfielder Kevin Pillar was penciled in to receive a $9.7MM salary award in his third and final trip through arbitration this offseason.
A cursory glance at Pillar’s stats would render this to be a reasonable projection–and an eminently manageable sum for Farhan Zaidi’s front office in San Francisco. After all, Pillar hit 21 home runs in 2019, after an early April trade from Toronto deposited the veteran Pillar into the Giants’ everyday lineup. Over 161 games, the outfielder would come to lead the team not just in homers, but also in RBIs, stolen bases, and runs scored, all while playing respectable defense in center and right field.
Then again, the operative word there was “cursory”–a deeper look at Pillar’s numbers indicate his effective value may not match his arbitrational value.
While Pillar did accrue some nice counting stats in 2019, his 2.8% walk rate in 2019 resulted in a ghastly .287 OBP. Weighted metrics suggest he was a squarely sub-average offensive performer overall (85 wRC+ in 645 plate appearances); then again, Pillar’s never been known as a plus performer at the plate, as his 86 career wRC+ would suggest. Though the California product does still offer excess value on the bases (6.0 Fangraphs BSR recording in 2019), it’s not as if the club can place a premium on his defense: his 0.3 UZR and -3 DRS marks last year were all-too-typical for an outfielder on the wrong side of the 30-year age marker.
Giving due credit to intangible considerations like veteran leadership and Pillar’s general reputation as a good teammate, Zaidi’s FO is ultimately looking at a slightly sub-par-hitting outfielder who, given a well-rounded game, slates as a roughly average regular. Just how much such a player is worth is, as always, a question of what the club’s recourse would be if they ultimately decided to go in another direction.
Looking to the free agent market, the Giants are unlikely to find an appealing host of options. Starling Marte figures to have his $11.5MM club option exercised, Brett Gardner doesn’t project as much of an upgrade from a performance or value standpoint, and, after that, the club will likely find a charming menagerie of former full-time players like Jon Jay, Billy Hamilton, and Juan Lagares. Not exactly a group to build a season-ticket sales pitch around.
On the trade front, Zaidi could enter the Mookie Betts sweepstakes–except for the fact that such a one-year move would hinge on the belief that the Giants are ready to contend in 2020, which would be hard to support after a 77-85 season. If the World Series-bound Nationals are intent on making marginal moves, it’s conceivable that a player like Michael A. Taylor could be pried away, but Taylor might be best suited for his current part-time, defense-and-speed role until he’s proven otherwise. Aside from that, “average” center fielders are not as plentiful as one might assume.
Then again, there is a third option, courtesy of Kerry Crowley of The Mercury News–San Francisco could try to hammer out an extension with a slightly lower AAV (link). Crowley suggests offering a one-year deal with a club option for 2021 totaling a potential $13MM-$15MM in value. This option, admittedly, does make some sense as a half-measure approach. The Giants, arguably the prestige org of the new millennium, could continue to run out a serviceable center fielder while it continues to try to identify the building blocks for its next championship team. No faded former starters, no overmatched prospects forced into full-time duty, no crippling long-term commitment.
So, on the balance, which route should Zaidi take this offseason in regard to the veteran Pillar? (Poll link for app users.)
What should the Giants do with Kevin Pillar this offseason?
-
Bring Pillar back for one more season. 40% (3,056)
-
Arrange a reasonable extension. 32% (2,464)
-
Non-tender, fill position via free agency or trade. 28% (2,114)
Total votes: 7,634
No poll
Pillar, Yaz, and Dickerson carried the entire offense. It’ll be interesting to see where this offseason goes for Zaidi, but they can no longer expect any real offensive contributions from Posey, Belt, or Crawford. Unless the Giants intend to make moves to begin displacing those three, it seems pretty likely that Pillar is in SF in 2020.
Surprised to see Gardner’s war was 4.0 vs Pillar’s 1.0
Why? Gardner is an excellent defender who got some clutch hits that helped ensure the win or gain the lead/tie it up. How often did Pillar get to do that on the Giants? Sure Gardner benefits from protection in a stacked line up, but the guy has multiple tools that Pillar doesn’t exhibit as consistently and he’s in a stronger line up, period.
I would bet Pillar knows he’s a middle of the pack type player who, unless he breaks out next season, isn’t worth $10M a year. But… I don’t think Gardner hits home runs and thinks that added a few hundred grand to his next free agent deal. I think Gardner hits home runs and hopes they help the club win and hopes it shows he can still play and should still be an outfielder for the Yankees and only the Yankees.
I haven’t looked it up, but, what if Pillar’s numbers didn’t result in wins, merely data in games played and lost, whereas Gardner’s number actually did directly result in wins, because his team won more and he produced in those winning games… I realize guys like Mike Trout nullify this argument without hitting 50 HR’s and batting .350 a season on a winning club, so I don’t really get the WAR calculations, I digress…IAs far as Gardner being an option and whether or not he’s a stronger bat than Pillar, who was probably playing as well as he could for his next contract after being traded to a new team not in contention, I would like to think Gardner hits home runs and thinks that added a few hundred grand to his next free agent deal. I think Gardner hits home runs and hopes they help the club win and hopes it shows he can still play and should still be an outfielder for the Yankees and only the Yankees.
I don’t get why Gardner would even be mentioned in the article. I doubt he moves coasts at this point in his career to play for a re-booting club with expensive immovable contracts only to be another expensive immovable contract when he’s never shown he was motivated by money or individual stats beyond what he does to help the team as a whole. Plus, if the Yankees bring him back, which they probably will, he will get more than $7.5M and at that point I don’t think Gardner knows if he wants to play beyond next season and it seems like after earning over $70M in his career and knowing he could probably get an extra $10M just to keep being the Yanks’ fourth outfielder, a few extra million on top of that at this point wouldn’t pry him away from the Yankees or retirement as a player.
The Yankees will offer Gardner less like they did Bernie Williams…..
I disagree. The club is functioning way differently more youth oriented than even Bernie’s final seasons and Gardner is a different kind of athlete compared to Bernie. I’m sure Bernie was jacked in his prime but you put Gardner right now up against Bernie at his most technically peak condition and I bet Gardner equals or wins on most contests. I get why his $12M option was not picked up and I was not surprised by how quickly he and the Yanks did the $7.5M deal but they all admit they expected him to play in a third or more fewer games than he has and even with the juiced ball his swing has improved and his power has improved year over year so I don’t think this season was a fluke. I’ll grant folks like 4 of his home runs were from the juiced ball but the arches on his long balls and his bat speed and new approach at the plate all contributed in ways that would’ve yielded similar results with a dead ball, as they maybe probably have this post season.
I hope he re-signs for a “retirement bonus” sized 1-year deal. Like buyout Encarnacion and give Gardy the other $15M or exercise EE’s option flip him and his money and then spend the full $20M on Gardner.
Gardner was such an excellent defender that the Yankees signed Ellsbury to keep him away from CF. As he’s aged, so has his glove. He is an adequate defender. Nothing more. Adequate is not a bad thing.
Apples and Oranges,to much hot air,Gardner plays in a Ban Box,Pillar plays in the toughest HR Parks and one of the toughest Outfields in a New League/Park,numbers are going to be skewed.Sign Pillar to a Short Term Contract to Bridge the gap to possibly Helio Ramos.
Pillar in 2019 …
In wins: .312/.339/.529/13hr/63rbi
In losses: .205/.233/.333/8hr/23rbi
I believe one of those is, in fact, Numberwang–Congratulations!
I watched him play every day, he gave 100% on every play and always ran out ground balls, definitely deserving of the Willie Mac which he was given.
However, 2019 was his only above average offensive season, and it came in a year where everybody was hitting the ball out of the ballpark, making his 21 HR less impressive than what it would be in any other season. His projected salary is an overpay for what he’ll likely bring to the team in 2020, but the Giants are scarce on outfield options and they may have no choice but to take on the salary in order to “stay competitive.”
My personal opinion, he should be non-tendered and replaced with one of Farhan’s “dumpster dive” pickups in the offseason, as the Giants need to rebuild, but it seems as if the regime does not agree with that opinion, so we’ll see how it plays out.
The Giants can afford Pillar. I’d rather see him instead of one of Zaidi’s dumpster dive guys. Would you really rather have someone like Mike Gerber or Aaron Altherr instead of Pillar?
Tad I’ll argue that Alex Dickerson and Mike Yaz were definitely dumpster diving guys. That logic could certainly work against you here.
We’re talking about CF. Corner guys are way more easy to find dumpster diving. Yaz is capable enough to fill in occasionally, but he’s really not an everyday guy there. Plus RF is almost as difficult as CF at Oracle. Who plays there if Yaz plays CF? And how many guys like Yaz are available dumpster diving? Alex Dickerson in CF would be a disaster waiting to happen.
I agree. If you are a rebuilding club it is good to have some reliable vet guys on your team and if you aren’t going for it then spending about 10 mil on Pillar isn’t too bad. It reminds me of the Phillies signing Jeremy Hellickson for almost 20 mil during some of their rebuilding years.
Farhan cannot not resign Pillar……he is the best center fielder to roam the spacious outfield in SF in years…….his defense outweighs his minor offensive shortcomings……20+ home runs, etc. So what if he doesn’t take walks as often……forget the silly analytic crap and resign a solid ball player.
It’s not even like he is the defender he once was. He was worth -3 DRS last year. 20 home runs is nothing anymore, and will likely go down if they do go back to the regular ball for next year. They could probably get similar value out of Billy Hamilton or Jarrod Dyson, and it would cost less.
20 Hrs is nothing anymore except at Oracle, Oracle was dead last with a park factor for HRs of 0.691. 1.000 is equal for hitter and pitcher. Toronto was first with a 1.317. Oracle is close to half of that of the Rogers Centre.
Pillar hit 21, last season In 2018 Longoria hit 16 and that was the team high. Belt led the team with 18 in 2017, and 17 in 2016. No one has hit 20 since Crawford hit 21 in 2015. The ball may be more lively these days but Oracle remains a tough place to hit one out in spite of that.
Still though, is that worth the lack of defense he doesn’t provide?
I don’t see him as providing a huge lack of defense. Watching him play everyday I’m surprised at the -3 DRS. Then again Oracle is difficult for both CF and RF.
I like Pillar, though I am aware of his flaws. I just don’t see a very good alternative. A good hitting, good fielding CF is almost like a good hitting, good defensive catcher. They’re as rare as hen’s teeth.
But he’s neither a good hitter/fielder. He’s pretty mediocre at both. Sure he’ll hit some home runs but that’s about it.
He may not be a good hitter, but he’s a better hitter by far than any of the alternatives. If his arb projection was $5M, instead of almost $10M he would be a no-brainer.
The Jays made the mistake of thinking he was easily replaceable when they traded him for a bucket of balls to SF in the first place. Then they suffered through some terrible ABs from the likes of Brito, Fisher, McKinney, Davis, Grichuk, etc.
He’ll never wow you but Pillar’s floor won’t hurt a club like the above guys and that has value.
As rare as hens teeth. Nicely put.
Billy Hamilton in same sentence as Pillar. I think he’s much more than a respectable outfielder. Poor man’s Jim Edmunds. 110% effort in OF.
What is with Frisco fans and their overly sentimental attachment to mediocre players? Guys like Pillar are the reason they lose. A guy with a .287 OBP makes OUTS . Geez , unplug . Zaidi can do way better than Pillar . Lol
Like who? Come on. If you want to talk like you’re the expert name some names.
I know who the alternatives are and you’ll have a hard time justifying playing any of them in front of Pillar.
Billy Hamilton but I like Pillar, he reminds me of galvis for outfield plays everyday 20 home runs. Good not great player
Jarrod Dyson
Billy Hamilton gives a team almost no offense. People cite Pillar’s low OBP as a huge negative, but it’s still better than Hamilton’s. The only thing in Hamilton’s favor is that he had 8 more SBs. I’ll trade those 8 SBs for Pillar’s 35 more points in wRC+.
Jarrod Dyson is not better than Pillar, not even marginally. The only things in his favor is he’s a somewhat better defender, and cheaper. But Pillar is a much better hitter than Dyson, than Dyson is better as a fielder.
Dyson is 4 years older. I’m not saying the Giants should pay him anything close to his arb projection. I voted that they should extend him at a reasonable rate. If they do that he’s a better option than either Dyson of Hamilton.
Where exactly is this place you call “Frisco”? Sounds made-up, to be honest.
Nobody can “resign” Pillar. Only Pillar can “resign”.
Don’t let the uptick in HRs fool you. His OBP is abysmal, and although he provides above average base running and average defense as a 30 year old CF, a FA OF can be had at half the cost of Kevin Pillar and his projected $9.7mm salary
Why don’t you name some? it’s easy to say somebody can be easily replaced, but is Pillar really that easily replaced? I don’t but that he is, unless you can name the guys that are better and can be acquired
I’d argue that the Giants are better off running out Steven Duggar or other dumpster diving options. They found Yaz and Dickerson following the same approach this year. Time will tell if those two are legitimate OF’s but Pillar is on the wrong side of 30 and the Giants aren’t going anywhere with him.
Duggar would be great if he could stay on the field. He’s too fragile to be counted on. He’s missed a ton of games in the last 2 years. Corner guys like Yaz and Dickerson are a lot easier to find dumpster diving than a capable everyday CF.
Anyone BUT Jon Jay. What is the fascination with this guy? He is nothing more than a slappy, weak singles hitter who offers no speed, no arm and no power. Crazy that teams keep giving him millions to be a cheerleader.
Duggar looked really underwhelming with the bat, even if defense was solid. The Giants need dingers!
Pillar is terrible. He doesn’t have a roster spot on a decent team. But he’s in San Fran and their awful. But Frisco fans like him. They’re a weird bunch, they develop sentimental attachments to 1.0 WAR guys and have religious like obsessions w/ players like Pence, Duffy , Dickerson and now Pillar. I don’t get it
There was a reason he was beloved in Toronto for years. Get Goldy and Cole. I assure you Pillars d metrics will improve in a second season in sf in a smaller park. And as long as he’s hitting where he should his bat will be welcome. Tender Smith and Mad Bum
Gardner is not an upgrade? Dude is still a 3-4 win player.
Let’s see Gardner’s stats when he isn’t in that insane lineup and playing half his games in Oracle Park.
Gardner is 6 years older. Pillar is indestructible and can be counted on to play when you need him. How much longer can you say that about Gardner?
Trade him to the browns for a third round pick njoku and tickets to the rock and roll hall of fame
I think they should hold on to him. The market for an adequate to good CF is not abundant. I don’t see him as an everyday guy for a contender, but he could serve as the 4th guy when they have a better chance to contend in a few years.
I see him kind of like Gardner, who was not intended to play as many games as he did, but was big for the Yankees with all their injuries. Pillar is not as good as Gardner, he’s more like a poor-man’s Brett Gardner, but he could be worth holding on to.
He is a fun player to watch who I believe plays better than his stats show. I watched him daily and he looked great in center. He hustles and plays like he should wear a helmet.
Frankly, the Giants have the money, I don’t see anyone better to replace him internally or in free agency. He’s still in his prime. The Giants haven’t had a decent CF in ages. And he’s exciting to watch. Do a one-year deal and move on to more important issues.
fun if you like watching him flail away at the plate. If he had ANY plate discipline he would be a star.
It’s not like they are going to be competing next year. Might as well bring back one of the few guys who played with heart this season unless they have other expensive signings they are thinking about that will bring the luxury tax into play.
Good Managers love to pencil Pillar in their lineup card everyday. Anyone who makes decisions based solely on war or wrc + or drc runs saved is a fool and doesn’t know how to measure the intangibles needed to win.
The Jays haven’t been able to replace pillar since he was traded for basically Derek law and a lottery ticket. Great deal for the giants. Atkins tried to replace Pillar internally and that didn’t work and then traded Sanchez, Biagini and a good prospect for a deadbeat Derek Fisher.
Decent Center fielders are valuable. Giants should sign pillar for a few more years.
I’d like to congratulate you for being the first person to ever say Cal Stevenson was a good prospect.
Cal Stevenson probably could have matched what Derek Fisher produced at the big league level with the Blue Jays. Anytime a player can crack a team’s Top 25 or 30 prospect list “can” be considered good, albeit a term used loosely, Then again you are an O’s fan. You don’t know what a good prospect looks like. When you do, us Jays fans will come back to sincerely congratulate you.
Lol, Why I have no desire to communicate with you 101.
Cal Stevenson isn’t a top 30 Astros prospect after they purged 4 of their top 15 guys to AZ for Greinke. He’s a 23 year old 5’10 170 lbs with no power and little speed. But sure, Trim I know if there’s any possible way you can throw a nonsense jab you’ll take it.
Are you a clueless sad fan because you happen to root for the Jays? You may be both of those things but it isn’t because of the team you root for. That’s beyond nonsense to suggest. Best of luck continuing on with your garbage. Goodbye.
Pillar will absolutely be on the team. Whether a 2 year deal, to offset his impending final year of arbitration. Or the one year sign and play.
The guy hit very well at home. Something Farhan stated when speaking about a home yard offense. And won the Willie Mac award, recognizing heart and hustle. He’s a Giant. And made his case known thru and thru over the course of the season. Duggar is Still in the Organization. And with injuries it’s no doubt he’ll get another chance as well.
But maybe Pillar can shift to right here or there. With another season to figure out the confines. Farhan does like moving parts, when it comes to the lineup. And I expect more so. With the hiring of a new Farhan Manager.
Pillar is a great add. A great pickup last season. I don’t expect him to replicate the numbers he had. But I’d like to have him on the team to help carry the outfield. Until Ramos comes up. Maybe a trade also here or there.
500 at bats next season and 350 – 400 the year after if they sign him up. Ain’t bad.
But, he could always be traded next year if he does good. But for what. And who. ? I’d take a bullpen piece for sure. Right-hander. . . All depends on what deal they give him in a few weeks. . .
Pillar is a 1.0 War guy who makes way too many outs at the plate. He’s at best a mediocre player. Why is there a desperate need to give a guy like that Millions of dollars?
I’m gonna respond, because I think your trolling. And looking for a response. So I’m gonna give one.
– First who’s your team. To feel the need to state your opinion on many other posts here.?
Also, are you watching games. Or just reading stats.?
Also players get paid. That’s what they do. I think most players with a .264 avg. 157 hits 37 doubles 21 home runs 87 rbi get paid millions.
So you don’t really have an argument. I think your just talking.
Certainly not front office material. HA.
I don’t have an argument? I posted my argument.
He’s a 1.0 War player! His 287 OBP was the worst OBP in the league by a starting OF
You’re clearly some ridiculously sentimental Giants fan who probably never even knew who Pillar was before last year
As far as watching guys play or what team I like. It’s really none of your business considering this is a trade rumors site , but I’ll indulge you. I’m a sleepless Yankee fan. I’ve been watching Pillar for years . He played in TO in the AL East
and constantly stoled runs from the Yankees while he patrrolled centre field with the Jays! another yankees fan hating on a player because he has played good against your team! watch the games and quit spewing the same stat over and over
I don’t think he should ever again get the 600+ PA he got in 2019 nor do I think that anywhere BUT arbitration does he get $9.7M salary.
The reason Pillar worked at Oracle at least with counting stats is he’s a dead pull hitter and that’s the only part of the ballpark that plays fair (left field). He does have strong platoon splits and instead of running into the ground as the Giants at times were forced to he’s another 30+ yo player that should be playing slightly less than every day (ditto Crawford who with Dubron on board now has a real SS also on the roster)
The park is being reconfigured, the bullpens are being moved into the OF reducing the dimensions in Right Center (triples) alley. Yaz should be able to take some starts in CF and showed he can play all 3 OF positions. I don’t know where the org is with Duggar, the glove is a no brainer but he strikes me as someone who needs to get stronger and make up for lost developmental time AKA don’t rush him have him force his way onto the team.
I do think Pillar and Giants find some common ground ahead of the non-tender deadline, he’ll get a raise from his $5.8M but not much, maybe some escalator tossed in?. Is there even 1yr $8M contract out there waiting for Pillar if he got non-tendered? MLB middle class are getting crushed in free agency. ZERO way he goes to arbitration, no way SFG risk that prediction
Well, the Giants never go to arbitration. I can’t remember how many years ago it was that they took someone to arb. So it will be resolved one way or the other before it gets that far.
There are only 2 FAs under 30 that are available to play CF. Billy Hamilton and Charlie Tilson. I can’t say I know much about Tilson, his numbers aren’t impressive, but I know enough about Hamilton to easily prefer Pillar.
Duggar is too much of an injury risk to not have someone ready to step in. Yaz is better suited in RF. And were he to move to center, finding a RF won’t be easy. Even if the park is reconfigured it’s not going to be a hitter’s park and Oracle basically needs a guy that can handle CF to play RF.
I’m like you and believe they will find common ground at something more reasonable that that arb projection. The Giants know he’s probably the best option in case Duggar goes down again, and I think Pillar wants to stay in SF.
That bold e is so annoying!
I love pillar I say bring him back he was one of the most enjoyable things to watch this season!
.287 OBP is an automatic NON Tender. The only reason it’s even an issue is that he plays for the Giants. He doesn’t get a roster spot on a contender and even a good to above average team automatically non tenders . But the Giants are awful. So, maybe in some strange way it makes sense to give 8-9 Million dollars to a 1.0 WAR , 287 OBP guy
Okay, so the Giants non-tender him. Who plays CF in 2020 when Duggar goes down again?
It’s so easy to say someone stinks, and the team they play for should let him go. But it’s not that easy, nor as black and white as you paint it. Someone has to play CF for the Giants, and the alternatives are worse than Pillar.
I’m well aware of Pillar’s shortcomings, but I also know that’s only half of the problem. Talk about not making sense.
Pillar for JBJ straight up who says no
So the Giants would pay more for a guy who hits worse?
First thing I can’t help but note is all the guys around Pillar’s age on the Giants, in the middle of expensive long term extensions that are albatrosses to say the least. And it’s not like Pillar is coming off getting the Giants through a period of excellent records, historic offensive output at his position and healthy post-season appearances. He’s just a good, consistent, young player on an aging or disappointing squad. He’s like Trey Mancini on the Orioles. A star on the losing club, a middle to back of the order bat on any other club that is seriously in contention with an on-going Youth Movement.
This seems like a prime example of salary explosions getting ridiculous. If his projected salary is $9.7M and everybody seems to agree he isn’t worth that much, to the point it might be worth it to let him go and hope a cheaper signing or a quadruple-A player literally adds Wins Above Replacement for his production…why not everybody meet in the middle?
This is another odd MLB example of a guy wrapping up his arbitration seasons with these exploding salaries that wouldn’t bear out on the open market but the arbitration process forces everybody into this position of players feeling like they deserve 10 because they got 5 last year but…why not just 7? Or $8.7M? That’s 1.5x his current salary.
Pillar and the Giants know he wouldn’t make this kind of money on the open market or if he did it’d be a slight overpay, so… maybe just don’t overpay?
Seems like the type of guy who’s looking at $10M based on the arbitration calculations, probably knows he isn’t worth that much, probably wants his set-for-life contract. and if he got $10M AAV on the open market it’d be an overpay.
I think the appropriate solution is they work out a backloaded 3 year/$28M deal ($8.5M, $9M, $9M, w/ $1.5M buyout ) and a $10.5M option for 2023. I don’t see how he does better on the open market aiming for a long-term deal. I don’t see how the Giants can ignore his decent season. Not sure they could low ball him any more than this.
They seem weirdly stuck. Probably low trade value, hard to justify not paying him, not enough offense to just let his bat walk, let alone his fielding… Maybe just bite the bullet and pay the guy, don’t go for any major FA deals that could turn into another *TAKES DEEP BREATH* Jeff Samardzija/Jonny Cueto/Brandon Belt/Mark Melancon/Crawford/Longoria/Posey situation…..
Which, when I put it that way….. lock Pillar up to a 5 year/$95M deal that pays exactly $19MM per season with a $5M buyout. It’ll work out beautifully!
What a strange thing arbitration is. Guy has a 1.0 WAR year and he is projected to get a big raise.
Then there are the guys who have terrible years and still get raises
SMH…..
Pillar is a nice player, but doesn’t do anything for SF on a one year deal. an extention should be nice.
Pillar might have the worst eye in MLB. He’s a fourth outfielder. Giants can do better.
I see zero problem with keeping Pillar one more year at whatever arb value he may come out at. I don’t see the Giants competing this upcoming year. He’s familiar with the club. Sure, he may get paid a bit more than he’s actually worth, but it’s not like it’s a ton. Common sense says keep him. With no payroll crunch or expectations to be a playoff contender, there’s no reason they can’t keep him.
My vote is for SFG to non-tender Kevin Pillar then resign him to whatever length and salary they think they should.
SFG has two more years to ride out some large contracts of aging players. To those players’ credit, they are giving everything they have.
Anyone who thinks he should be released didn’t watch the Giants. He was a viable member. Giants start getting cheap, the fans will reapond accordingly.
If i’m the giants I work out Sub 10 AAV 3ish year extension for him. Let’s call it 3/$21m. If they non-tender and he walks they get nothing in return so there is some risk there.
I don’t buy into the negative DRS metrics, because by those same stats Trout and JBJ (-1 DRS) are both below average fielders which I don’t think is the case. I think Pillar is a very good fielder and baserunner. He is also reliable, spending 142+ games each of the last 5 seasons. Definitely needs to work on his OBP to utilize his speed more but if they can bring him back on a team-friendly extension they should be good.
A career .281 hitter with a .766 OPS against lefties. Kevin Pillar would make a great 4th OF, especially for a contending team with a lefty hitter who struggles against lefties. He’d experience less wear and tear also.
If Boston keeps JBJ, Pillar would be a good replacement against lefties. JBJ a career .669 OPS against lefties.
Keep Pillar, Duggar struck out 78 times for a part time singles hitter.
My understanding of defensive metrics is that there isn’t a special value placed on catching balls that would be home runs. Pillar has a high level of talent for catching balls hit over the wall. I think the eyeball test would rate his defend higher than the cold math.
The Giants should re-sign Pillar to a 2yr $15-17 million extension.
I get the .287 OBP and his 85 WRC but what most fail to see is how he hit with RISP.
Bases Empty AB 353, Avg. .255, OBP .283, SLG .433, OPS .717
Runners On AB 258, Avg .264, OBP .291, SLG .430, OPS .722
RISP AB 138, Avg .275, OBP .305, SLG .413, OPS .718
RISP w/ 2 Outs AB 61, Avg .295, OBP .358, SLG .475, OPS .834
Bases Loaded AB 15, Avg .467, OBP .444, SLG .733, OPS 1.178
He definitely needs to work on his OBP but he was a much better hitter with RISP…..and last time I checked, you still need to score runs to win.
Stat geeks that imply Pillar is subpar as a defender or clutch hitter should step away from their computers for a minute and actually watch the game from time to time. Pillar is a great CF and hits in the clutch, period.
Absolutely agree
Pillar, Yaz and Dubon only confirmed starters for 2020. Need upgrades everywhere else.
1 year contract, hopefully they can get Pillar to agree to something slightly below his projected arbitration value.
Why? It’s only a 1 year deal and the chances are high the Giants will trade Pillar mid-season, whereby they can eat some/all of the contract and get a nice piece back; Pillar will be good trade currency.
Concerning Pillar’s defense, I think this is a great example of why the “Eye” test can be better than pure analytics/stats when it comes to defense. Just watching Pillar you can see he is still a very good OF. Also, in order for the stats to be truly reliable, a standard deviation needs to be put in place; his worst plays and best plays need to be removed from the data for a better picture of what he is defensively. If a couple bad plays made his overall defensive metrics look bad then you’re not getting the best example of what Pillar is.
Lastly, it’s not easy to get free agent hitters to come to SF. Holding onto a known asset at the tail end of his prime years on a 1 year deal for a rich franchise is a smart move.