Former SF Giants Willie Mac Award winner finds a new home ahead of 2025 season

Former SF Giants outfielder Kevin Pillar has found a new team. He has signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers with an invite to spring training. The 36-year-old veteran is giving it a go for at least one more season.

This comes after Pillar said during the offseason that he was strongly considering retirement after the 2024 season. He changed his mind and wants to keep playing which is exactly what he is doing by signing with the Rangers.

The California native has bounced around a lot in recent seasons. Last year he reached ten years of MLB service time which is a great achievement. He has played for nine different MLB teams, so the Rangers would be his tenth if he can snag a roster spot out of spring training.

Former SF Giants outfielder Kevin Pillar signs with new team

Last season with the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels, Pillar slashed .229/.291/.377 with eight home runs, 45 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. He also had a stunning web gem of a catch in August with the Angels that robbed New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor of extra bases. It would be a great catch for anyone, but it was especially impressive for the veteran to showcase that he is still that strong of a defender well into his thirties. He is also not the only former Giant and Angel to find a new team.

Giants fans will remember Pillar from 2019 when the team traded for him very early in the season when it was clear their outfield was in rough shape. He had a really solid year for the Giants, slashing .264/.293/.442 with 21 home runs and 87 RBI in 156 games played. He was an ironman and bastion of stability for the team in an otherwise forgettable season which is why it was not a huge surprise that he won the Willie Mac Award that season.

Yet, the Giants did not bring him back after that season which was a bit of a controversial move. He has never really matched his production from that season in the years since so perhaps it was a prudent move for the Giants to move on.

We will have to see if he can play in the big leagues this year, but no matter what he has had a great career and wore the Giants uniform well for one season.