Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Do you remember in Moneyball when Jonah Hill’s character says he should replace Jason Giambi with three players who have the same percentages on base?
This is what the Mets do … maybe.
After the miss of George Springer and the signing of field bowler Albert Almora Jr., the orange and blue have now added another weapon, namely Kevin Pillar on a one-year major league deal. Pillar spent his 2020 campaign with the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies and was a star at the 2013-2018 Toronto Blue Jays.
For a team that needs more foreign help, Pillar adds a little depth to the bench. He is certainly not the same defensive phenomenon he was earlier in his career, but he is still serviceable in the cornerfield positions and places positive DRS numbers in 2020.
Pillar, who is usually not known for his hitting, performs particularly well against the left-handed; his career status against left-handed pitchers is .286 / .320 / .464. In 2020 alone, Pillar scored 26 hits and five runs in just 82 record appearances against Southpaws.
It is not yet known who will be removed from the 40-man list to make way for Pillar, but the most likely scenario is that Jose Martinez or Almora will see some time in the minor years.
