Braves and Kevin Piller agree minor league deal

Braves and Kevin Piller agree minor league deal

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Braves and outfielders Kevin Pillar Reportedly agreed to a minor league deal MLBTR’s Steve AdamsPillar could earn a $3 million salary if he cracked the club’s roster. He is a client of All Bases Covered Sports Management.

Pillar, 34, was selected by the Blue Jays in the 32nd round of the 2011 draft. He was promoted to the majors by his 2013, and in 2015 took over a regular job with the Jays, which he held until 2018. In these four seasons, Piller appeared in his 601 games and batted .263/.301/.401. That output put him 12% below the league average in wRC+, but Pillar was able to deliver value in speed and defense. In that period he stole 68 bases and scored 57 defensive runs, giving him a 29.4 rating from the Ultimate Zone Rating.

The Jays went into a rebuild later in that time frame, converting Pillar to the Giants in April 2019. Good for the Giants, Red Sox, Rockies, Mets, and Dodgers, journeyman his phase of Piller’s career has begun. past few campaigns. He continues to hit at similar rates, but his work in the field naturally declined as he deepened into his 30s.

Piller’s most significant change this year is probably his health. He signed his minor league contract with the Dodgers last year and posted a huge .315/.412/.622 batting average in his 36 games in Triple-A. That production led to his 150 wRC+, showing that he was 50% above the league average. He was named to his Major League team in May, but was placed on the injured reserve after only four games in which he appeared due to a broken left shoulder. That injury required surgery, which was initially reported as “season-ending”, but Piller attempted a late-season comeback by beginning rehab assignments in September. There was no runway and his season was limited to those four contests.

For the Braves, two of their outfield jobs are Ronald Acuna Jr. When Michael Harris II. The left field position is less established and has a variety of in-house options. Eddie Rosario. Marcel Ozuna, Sam Hilliard, Eli White When Jordan Luplow You’ll be competing with each other for full-time or part-time jobs at big league clubs. If Pillar is healthy and looking good as spring and the season progresses, he can join the mix when the opportunity arises.

Piller’s $3 million annual salary is higher than most players typically secured by minor league contracts, which is notable for a club that is set to enter luxury tax territory for the first time. Roster Resource has now pegged its competitive balance tax amount at $241 million, above the base threshold of $233 million. Assuming they can’t find a way to reduce their pay somewhat and bring it back below the line, they’re lining up to pay a 20% tax on all spending that goes over the line.



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