Rangers sign veteran outfielder to minor league deal with invite to spring training

The Texas Rangers announced Sunday morning that the team had agreed to terms with veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

Pillar, a California native, is a 12-year MLB veteran who made his debut in 2013 with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2024, Pillar hit .229 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs while splitting time with the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels.

On July 6, 2024, Pillar indicated that the 2024 season would be his last as he planned to retire at the conclusion of the year. However, back in December on MLB Network's Hot Stove he indicated his desire to continue his playing career in 2025. Which leads us to Sunday, signing a deal with the Rangers.

The Rangers have depth in the outfield with Evan Carter, Ezequiel Duran, Adolis Garcia, Sam Haggerty, Wyatt Langford, Josh Smith and Leody Taveras. Now it could be as simple as doing your due diligence and making sure you find the best fit your roster but it could be an indication of something else incoming.

Is Leody Taveras' future with the Rangers in question?

Earlier this month it was rumored that teams were contacting the Rangers about trading for the switch-hitting outfielder but there was no real movement on that front.

Taveras, 26, has been with Texas his entire career making his debut in 2020 and is now one of the organization's longest tenured players on its current roster.

Service time with Texas aside, his production has been up-and-down and right now he's in a battle with Carter to be the team's starting centerfielder. The odds are stacked against Taveras because of the organization's belief in Carter's future with the team.

Taveras is set to make $4.75 million in 2025 and has three years of control until he hits free agency after the 2028 season. If the team is looking to trade Taveras elsewhere, the time would be soon as the years of control at a cheap rate make him a desirable candidate for a handful of teams.

Pillar's addition might have something to do with recent injury to Texas' young outfielder

On the morning before the team's Cactus League opener on Friday, the Rangers announced they were shutting down Wyatt Langford for a period of 5-7 days after an MRI revealed a minor strain of his right oblique.

While Bruce Bochy indicated that there is no concern and it should have no impact for Langford's availability come Opening Day, oblique injuries can take time to recover from depending on the severity. Back in 2023, an oblique strain ended Garcia's season and most recently it has sidelined Chicago Cubs' infielder Matt Shaw.

At the same time the Rangers added Pillar, Langford spoke on his injury saying his oblique was feeling good and should only be down another few days. He also mentioned that it's between him or Corey Seager as the team's best Fortnite player, but that seems less important.

Chris Young, being the smart baseball executive he is, likely took Langford's status into equation when finalizing the Pillar deal. While it may not amount to anything since Langford's return is likely coming soon, Pillar's depth can be a "in case of emergency" plan for Texas.