Bochy says Duggar will stay in center, likely won’t have playing time diminished by Pillar acquisition pic.twitter.com/jrBNaNsa7i
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 3, 2019
LOS ANGELES – After four of the Giants’ first five games began with one or both of Michael Reed and Connor Joe in the starting lineup, Farhan Zaidi decided it was time to make a change. This morning, the Giants traded Alen Hanson, Derek Law and pitching prospect Juan de Paula to the Toronto Blue Jays for Kevin Pillar and designated Michael Reed for assignment.
Zaidi said this afternoon that he took responsibility for putting Michael Reed (who was 0-for-8 with 6 strikeouts) in a difficult situation;
Farhan Zaidi on Michael Reed: “It’s unfair to him to say this was a judgment on his 8 at-bats so far. I take responsibility for putting him in a tough spot.”
If Reed clears waivers, Giants will be happy to keep him in the organization.
— Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) April 3, 2019
Zaidi said the question of how Pillar would be used was a better question for Bruce Bochy, who obliged reporters with a fairly clear picture. Bochy said he planned to keep Duggar in center field and that the acquisition of Pillar would not diminish Duggar’s playing time.
“It makes it a little bit easier to give Duggar a rest, give him a break against certain left-handers,” Bochy said. “Duggar is going to get his playing time, but (Pillar) can help out, especially in our ballpark, in a big outfield, having a couple center fielders out there is going to be pretty nice.”
Bochy said he’ll have to talk to Pillar after he arrives, but his plan is to start Gerardo Parra in left field and Pillar in right field. While Bochy had initially planned to give Duggar a day of rest on this trip, he said he changed his mind, with youth a factor.
“Yeah (that was my plan), but he’s swinging well, we’re off Thursday,” Bochy said. “He’s young. You know what’s funny, today, you get in that six, seven games, it’s like the alarm goes off. Guys didn’t come off the bench for the first month or so (in the past). The Braves back in the 90s, I didn’t know who their bench was. Chipper Jones, those guys, it’s amazing.”
Bochy said he was excited to incorporate Pillar into the lineup and jested that Pillar, who lives in Arizona, was likely disappointed that the Giants couldn’t have acquired him this offseason, as it would have given him the chance to play his spring training at home, rather than in Florida, where the Blue Jays host their spring training.
“He was probably going, ‘Agh, you guys couldn’t have done it before spring training?’” Bochy said.
Bochy on Pillar: “We’re excited, really excited.” pic.twitter.com/fif7dmfvIa
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 3, 2019
Bochy salivated at the defensive outfield opportunity he now has with Duggar, Pillar and Gerardo Parra.
“We’re excited, really excited,” Bochy said. “It’s somebody that’s been on our radar for a while. To have him here to help out to give us plus defense, another bat, an experienced guy. The energy level that he plays at, I’m looking forward to getting to know him and watching him.”
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