POLL Position evaluation - Center field

Here is the short list of free agents who primarily played center field last year. Name (age) - 2019 OPS:
Cesar Puello (29) - .740
Kevin Pillar (31) - .719
Jarrod Dyson (35) - .633
Leonys Martin (32) - .619
Juan Lagares (31) - .605
Billy Hamilton (29) - .564
Jacoby Ellsbury (36) - .750 (2017)

I will answer for the masses (he who shall not be named, for one...)


Trade Bart for a stop gap solution. This team is unwatchable. I want to see wins NOW!

1st choice would have been to keep pillar in center and let duggar be the 4th outfielder. Given Pillar is gone (which I can't remember why), I'm OK with starting duggar and giving him the hook if he's not showing long term potential thru a 75gm audition

stanford the manford said:

1st choice would have been to keep pillar in center and let duggar be the 4th outfielder. Given Pillar is gone (which I can't remember why), I'm OK with starting duggar and giving him the hook if he's not showing long term potential thru a 75gm audition

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The Giants non-tendered Pillar, making him a free agent. You'll see on my list of free agents that he is still available. I wouldn't be surprised, if, given a month from now, he is still on the market, the Giants engage his agent in conversation about a deal much lower than what he would have gotten through arbitration.

LHG said:

The Giants non-tendered Pillar, making him a free agent. You'll see on my list of free agents that he is still available. I wouldn't be surprised, if, given a month from now, he is still on the market, the Giants engage his agent in conversation about a deal much lower than what he would have gotten through arbitration.

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Yep... I did see your list.

I have zero knowledge of contract terms, but I assume Giants had control of Pillar and decided to 'non-tenure' him. Pillar was, IMO, a good contributor and not a locker room pariah. So if he was allowed to walk it would have been a contract issue or a prospect in the pipeline. I don't see a prospect and so it must be a contract thing.

If so, why would the contract now be more attractive to the Giants and is it even material given all the other roster questions?

LHG said:

The Giants non-tendered Pillar, making him a free agent. You'll see on my list of free agents that he is still available. I wouldn't be surprised, if, given a month from now, he is still on the market, the Giants engage his agent in conversation about a deal much lower than what he would have gotten through arbitration.

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I doubt they are waiting to talk to his team. I suspect they have an open dialogue as we speak. The Giants want him back, but only at a discount. Pillar would be fine coming back, but he is waiting out the market to see if he can make some scratch somewhere.

All my WAGs, of course. But I think it makes sense.

stanford the manford said:

Yep... I did see your list.

I have zero knowledge of contract terms, but I assume Giants had control of Pillar and decided to 'non-tenure' him. Pillar was, IMO, a good contributor and not a locker room pariah. So if he was allowed to walk it would have been a contract issue or a prospect in the pipeline. I don't see a prospect and so it must be a contract thing.

If so, why would the contract now be more attractive to the Giants and is it even material given all the other roster questions?

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calsnowskier said:

I doubt they are waiting to talk to his team. I suspect they have an open dialogue as we speak. The Giants want him back, but only at a discount. Pillar would be fine coming back, but he is waiting out the market to see if he can make some scratch somewhere.

All my WAGs, of course. But I think it makes sense.

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My whole point was that, considering the lateness of the offseason, Pillar's camp may be more willing to listen to lower deals. The reason the Giants jettisoned him was due to his low offensive numbers (compared to other outfielders) and sliding defensive metrics not matching what he would get in arbitration.

So, yes, stanford, they didn't want to pay him what he was going to get and yes, cal, I do think the Giants are waiting out the remaining offseason to try to get him signed at a lower amount.

I should note that the outfield and relief pitching market has been lagging behind all other positions this offseason. Things should pick up on both sides and a smart agent should see that and continue to try to get the best offer for his player. That is why I'm not sure if the Giants have begun talks again with Pillar's camp.

I feel like at this point Pillar makes no sense other than to be a good mentor to the rooks. If you can get him on the cheap/short term, bring the man back.

I’m assuming that ship has sailed. Start Duggar, Dick and Yaz in the outfield. If they can get Castellanos than that changes obviously, but Duggar deserves a chance to regain some of that promise. Better than any of the other damn retreads and in a zero Hope year of making the playoffs.....with Sr leaders already on the team like Posey, Belt and Craw.....why bring back SuperJew. Love him, but makes no sense moving forward for Pillar or the Giants.

filosofy29 said:

I feel like at this point Pillar makes no sense other than to be a good mentor to the rooks. If you can get him on the cheap/short term, bring the man back.

I’m assuming that ship has sailed. Start Duggar, Dick and Yaz in the outfield. If they can get Castellanos than that changes obviously, but Duggar deserves a chance to regain some of that promise. Better than any of the other damn retreads and in a zero Hope year of making the playoffs.....with Sr leaders already on the team like Posey, Belt and Craw.....why bring back SuperJew. Love him, but makes no sense moving forward for Pillar or the Giants.

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I would agree but Pillar was something of a fan favorite so it would be a good PR move. The talk I've read is that Yaz may have the inside track on center field and Jaylin Davis may get a good chance to win the right field job. Duggar may either become the 4th outfielder or sent to AAA. We'll see how it all plays out in the next two months.

LHG said:

I would agree but Pillar was something of a fan favorite so it would be a good PR move. The talk I've read is that Yaz may have the inside track on center field and Jaylin Davis may get a good chance to win the right field job. Duggar may either become the 4th outfielder or sent to AAA. We'll see how it all plays out in the next two months.

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My hope would be that Duggar can play CF at AT&T, and Yaz to play RF. Let Jaylin and Dick platoon/ride hot hand for LF. On the road, I’d be all for Yaz in CF and Dick/Jaylin playing the corners.

As always though, spring training performance will be the ultimate dictator of how the above unfolds.

stanford the manford said:

1st choice would have been to keep pillar in center and let duggar be the 4th outfielder. Given Pillar is gone (which I can't remember why), I'm OK with starting duggar and giving him the hook if he's not showing long term potential thru a 75gm audition

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One reason: $$$

filosofy29 said:

I feel like at this point Pillar makes no sense other than to be a good mentor to the rooks. If you can get him on the cheap/short term, bring the man back.

I’m assuming that ship has sailed. Start Duggar, Dick and Yaz in the outfield. If they can get Castellanos than that changes obviously, but Duggar deserves a chance to regain some of that promise. Better than any of the other damn retreads and in a zero Hope year of making the playoffs.....with Sr leaders already on the team like Posey, Belt and Craw.....why bring back SuperJew. Love him, but makes no sense moving forward for Pillar or the Giants.

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I will cut you.....