MLB rumors: 5 players the San Francisco Giants should trade away

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 09: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oracle Park on June 9, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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Mandatory Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images /

3. OF Kevin Pillar

The Giants got Kevin Pillar from the Toronto Blue Jays in April, and he hit a home run in four of six games soon after, with an .839 OPS over 12 games from April 5-12. From there through the end of May he hit just .236 with three home runs, while also being shifted primarily to right field.

An 0-for-4 outing against the Dodgers on Monday night ended Pillar’s hitting streak at four, with two home runs and five RBI over that span. It’s not saying much, but .264 with a .736 OPS in June qualifies as improvement.

San Francisco seemed to recognize Pillar’s steep year-over-year decline defensively in center field, and moved him off it. After accounting for 15 defensive runs saved in center for Toronto in 2017, he fell to -2 DRS there in 2018. In right field for the Giants, his DRS and UZR numbers have gone back into positive territory.

Pillar strikes out too much and walks too little to be more than a marginal, inconsistent offensive player. But he does offer some pop and stolen base potential, to go with competent defense in the outfield even amid a decline there.

Pillar is making $5.8 million this year, with one more year of arbitration eligibility left. So he won’t be a costly acquisition, and if that remaining year of team control matters the Giants might be able to get a slightly better return.

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