Blue Jays trade Pillar to Giants

The Toronto Blue Jays have traded popular centre fielder Kevin Pillar to the San Francisco Giants for three players. Photo: Wikipedia

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants teamed up to complete a four-player transaction on Tuesday, sending outfielder Kevin Pillar to the West Coast in exchange for infielder Alen Hanson and a pair of right-handers in Juan De Paula and Derek Law.

Known for his knack of robbing extra-base hits both at the wall and in the allies, Pillar appeared in 695 games with the Blue Jays after breaking into the majors during the 2013 season. A 32nd-round draft pick out of California State in 2011, the speedy outfielder produced an overall WAR of 10.1 while accounting for a UZR of 8.1 across 5762.1 defensive innings during his time in Toronto.

Hansen, 26, has spent parts of three seasons at the MLB level, slashing .238/.269/.384 with 47 extra-base hits across 243 games split between the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox and Giants, respectively.

De Paula, 21, has pitched in parts of four minor league seasons since being signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Seattle Mariners as a 17-year-old in 2015. In 233 affiliated innings, the 6-foot-3 product of Santo Domingo, DR has posted an overall ERA of 2.47 to go along with a WHIP of 1.16 throughout 48 appearances, 43 of which have come as a starter.

Law, 27, joins the Blue Jays having spent the last three years as a member of the Giants bullpen. Over that stretch, the former 28th-round draft pick has amassed a cumulative ERA of 3.83 while striking out 97 and walking only 31 batters

Tuesday's move promises to result in the call up of Toronto's No. 11 prospect Anthony Alford, who spent the majority of 2018 at the triple-A level and slashed .242/.342/.636 with four home runs over 33 at-bats this spring.

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