MLB Trade Rumors: Kevin Pillar gets 100% real on signing with Texas Rangers
Kevin Pillar is going to carry on playing baseball. At one time in 2024, the veteran outfielder thought he was going to retire, but it's obvious that's not his final choice yet, since the Texas Rangers announced on Sunday that Pillar had recently signed a minor league contract.
The team's media department posted on X (previously Twitter) that the Texas Rangers had signed OF Kevin Pillar (#16) to a minor league deal and invited him to Major League Spring Training camp.
The 36-year-old Pillar talked candidly about his choice to try baseball again after undergoing thumb surgery in the offseason.
The Rangers have welcomed Pillar to spring training, giving him an opportunity to show that he is deserving of a spot in the major leagues once more.
According to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry, Pillar stated, "After going through that process, rehabbing, getting cleared, and then starting to hit again, you start getting the itch again."
You begin to see that this is something I truly enjoy doing. I enjoy playing baseball. Being released early in the year was a major factor in my discussion of retirement last year. After then, you're uncertain if you'll get another opportunity to play. When you have the opportunity, you begin to consider the fact that not everyone has the freedom to make their own decisions after their work ends," Pillar continued.
Kevin Pillar's latest baseball stop is the Texas Rangers.
Pillar began the 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox until being cut loose in April. After that, he ended up with the Los Angeles Angels, where he played out the season. Pillar hit.229/.291/.377 in 100 games that year, including eight home runs, forty-five RBIs, and sixteen stolen bases.
Pillar, who is primarily recognized for his outstanding outfield defense, may be able to improve the Rangers' hitting against lefties in 2025. In 2024, he recorded slashing of.310/.352/.500 against southpaws, while the Rangers were just 20th in the major leagues with a batting average of.238 against lefties.
Additionally, Texas' outfielders only managed a 97 wRC+ against left-handed pitching during that season.
Prior to spells with the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, White Sox, and Angels, Pillar spent his first six or more seasons in Major League Baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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