It was announced today that Mike Trout would undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The Los Angeles Angels wasted no time finding a piece to add to their centerfield mix during his 4-6 week absence. The Angels announced on Tuesday that they’ve signed veteran Kevin Pillar to a contract.
OFFICIAL: The Angels have agreed to a one-year contract with OF Kevin Pillar. pic.twitter.com/1f2thmT7ng
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 1, 2024
Kevin Pillar Added to Angels Roster
Pillar, 35, found himself without a job after the Chicago White Sox designated him for assignment last week. It didn’t take long for him to find a home after electing free agency instead of accepting an assignment to Triple-A.
Surprisingly, Pillar didn’t stick with the White Sox, considering the state of their season. While the bat isn’t quite what it used to be, his glove is still one of the better ones in the game. He appeared in 17 games with the White Sox and hit .160/.290/.360 over 32 plate appearances. When the Toronto Blue Jays traded him in 2019, his bat started to decline, and he found himself as a defensive substitute or a platoon partner for the past four seasons.
The veteran steps into an outfield that needs help after Mike Trout goes down for 4-6 weeks. While he might not be the exact same fielder he once was, the glove is still good enough for an Angels outfield that’s going to have to piece it together for around two months without Trout patrolling centerfield.
The Fit for the Angels
For the Angels, Kevin Pillar represents a steady veteran presence. You know what you’ll get. He can come off the bench when needed or act as a platoon partner for the left-handed hitting Mickey Moniak. Pillar has the ability to play each of the three outfield positions with a glove that should have won a few Gold Gloves, but he had other defensive stalwarts to contend with. He offered one OAA for the White Sox this season and has only had three seasons where he was worth less than zero OAA since 2016.
The Angels made some other roster moves on Tuesday, including calling up left-hander Amir Garrett. To make room on the 40-man roster, they placed Michael Stefanic and Chase Silseth on the 60-day injured list to add Pillar and Garrett.
#Angels Transactions:
•Selected the contract of LHP Amir Garrett (#32)
•Signed OF Kevin Pillar to a one-year contract (#12)
•Placed OF Mike Trout (left knee meniscus tear) on 10-day injured list
•Transferred INF Michael Stefanic and RHP Chase Silseth to 60-day injured list…— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) May 1, 2024
