Although the Toronto Blue Jays were active in reshaping their roster over the offseason, many former Blue Jays struggled to secure a spot for 2025. However, with the arrival of spring training, several of these former players have managed to find new teams.
Justin Turner signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, while Rowdy Tellez joined the Seattle Mariners on a minor league deal with an invite to training camp.
You can now add Kevin Pillar to that list, as he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers over the weekend. Pillar had briefly considered retirement after last season but ultimately chose to continue his playing career for at least one more year.
The former Blue Jays fan favorite has joined the Rangers on a minor league deal.
Known as “Superman” during his time with the Blue Jays, Pillar gave fans countless unforgettable moments with his spectacular outfield plays throughout his seven seasons in Toronto.
In 695 career games with the Blue Jays, Pillar posted a .260 batting average and a .692 OPS, recording 303 runs, 156 doubles, 55 home runs, 231 RBIs, and 69 stolen bases. More importantly, he was a key contributor during the Jays’ postseason appearances in 2015 and 2016.
You can now add Kevin Pillar to that list, as he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers over the weekend. Pillar had briefly considered retirement after last season but ultimately chose to continue his playing career for at least one more year.
The former Blue Jays fan favorite has joined the Rangers on a minor league deal.
Known as “Superman” during his time with the Blue Jays, Pillar gave fans countless unforgettable moments with his spectacular outfield plays throughout his seven seasons in Toronto.
In 695 career games with the Blue Jays, Pillar posted a .260 batting average and a .692 OPS, recording 303 runs, 156 doubles, 55 home runs, 231 RBIs, and 69 stolen bases. More importantly, he was a key contributor during the Jays’ postseason appearances in 2015 and 2016.
That strong performance is likely what convinced the Rangers to take a chance on Pillar and give him another opportunity. By signing the minor league deal, Pillar earned an invite to spring training, where he’ll look to prove his value once again.
Though the Rangers boast a deep outfield, Pillar could find a role due to his impressive numbers against left-handed pitchers. Last year, he posted a .310/.351/.500 slash line against southpaws, which could make him a valuable option to fill in for center fielder Evan Carter, who struggled with a .189 batting average against lefties.