Outfielder Kevin Pillar has chosen to become a free agent rather than an accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Charlotte, the White Sox announced. Pillar was designated for assignment earlier this week and cleared waivers, but since he has far more than three years of MLB service time, Pillar has the right to reject any outright assignments in favor of a return trip to the open market.
Pillar first signed with Chicago on a minor league deal during the offseason, but after being released from that contract near the end of Spring Training, quickly re-signed with the Sox for a guaranteed big league deal. Pillar ended up appearing in 17 games for the White Sox, hitting .160/.290/.360 over 32 plate appearances and acting mostly as a late-game substitute.
Now in his 12th Major League season, the 35-year-old Pillar has rarely shown much at the plate but carved out a role as an excellent defensive center fielder during his heyday with the Blue Jays. Even after Toronto traded Pillar early in the 2019 season, he continued to receive more or less everyday work until falling into more of a part-time capacity over the last four seasons. This stretch included platoon/bench roles with the Mets in 2021 and the Braves in 2023, and he was slated for a similar role with the Dodgers in 2022 but played in only four games before a fractured shoulder ended his season.
Pillar should draw some looks from teams interested in adding veteran depth at all three outfield positions, plus some limited pop against left-handed pitching (the righty-swinging Pillar is a career .277/.310/.460 hitter against southpaws). It wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see Pillar again circle back to the White Sox if he can’t find a deal anywhere else, though Chicago more or less replaced Pillar with Tommy Pham, and might move more towards younger players anyway later in the season if and when veterans are dealt at the trade deadline.
Non Roster Invitee
Forever Giant!
washington_bonercats
Please god not again
Fever Pitch Guy
wash – Could be worse, in the middle of easily his best season he was traded by Bloom for Jacob Wallace …. horrific trade.
TellItGoodbye
No. He’s not.
FarmCatArmy
Let’s see lool
BrandonJ33
Future Oakland A
positively_broad_st
Enjoyed Pillar’s interview on Foul Territory on YT the other day. They interviewed him right after he was DFA’d. It was an interesting conversation. You don’t usually get an in-depth interview with a guy who was just asked to clear out his locker. It’s worth checking out and giving it a listen…
RoastGobot
Siempre gigante
Buff Barnacles
Yankee’s would be an interesting fit. That bench has almost zero pop.
deweybelongsinthehall
He wouldn’t add much at this stage of his career, especially at Yankee Stadium. His real value in my view is still his glove, catching and knowing what base to throw to (even if he has lost a step). If he gives you anything at the plate, it’s a bonus.
Citizen1
Any player dfa by the white Sox this season must be very happy not to be associated with that team all season
oscar gamble
Don’t think that’s the case here with Pillar having 9.072 years service time and being short of the ten year qualification for a full MLB pension.
Aiden Awe
He also said that the clubhouse is positive which is good to see.
mohoney
Yeah, he would gladly put up with all the losing to accrue 100 more days.
gmenfan
Can’t stick on the South Side? Well, only one stop left … Oakland.
MacGromit
Oakland just took 2 out of 3 against Baltimore.
2 out of 3 people in Chicago won’t even acknowledge there’s at team on the Southside.
Woe Sox are impressively awful this year.
Fever Pitch Guy
Mac – Apparently you don’t know the ChiSox just swept the Rays.
That’s the beauty of baseball, over a 162-game season things can change ….. and often do.
And everyone who has been boasting of the Rays being “the model franchise” will likely be eating some humble pie this season.
MacGromit
Yup, they’re a playoff team now for sure.
Fever Pitch Guy
Mac – Who said anything about playoffs?
You can make an argument about Oakland being better than the ChiSox, but each team will win at last 42 games this year.
Citizen1
Or Miami or Kc or Washington or the mets
Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman
I would not be surprised if the Braves picked him up again lol.
Zerbs63
Pillar can’t be worse that any of the trash on the white sox.
Buff Barnacles
Read back what you just typed out to the world. . Pull away from your computer
Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself out loud”
“Really?”
AllAboutBaseball
Is Intentional Talk any good? I stopped watching when they let go Chris Rose