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Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Remember in Moneyball when the character of Jonah Hill said to replace Jason Giambi with three players who have similar base percentages?
That’s what the Mets do… maybe.
After missing out on George Springer and signing outfielder Albert Almora Jr., the Orange and Blue have now added another weapon to the mix, namely Kevin Pillar on a one-year major league contract. Pillar spent his 2020 campaign with the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies and was a star of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2013 to 2018.
For a team that needs extra help on the pitch, Pillar adds depth to the bench. He’s certainly not the same defensive phenomenon he was earlier in his career, but he’s still usable in corner-of-field positions, posting positive DRS numbers at both positions in 2020.
Pillar, who is generally not known for his strikes, performs particularly well against the left-hander; his career stat line against left-handed pitchers is .286 / .320 / .464. In 2020 alone, Pillar racked up 26 hits and five steps in just 82 home plate appearances against lefties.
It is not yet clear who would be taken off the 40-man roster to make room for Pillar, but the most likely scenario would be for either Jose Martinez or Almora to see some miners’ time.
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