Rangers sign outfielder Pillar to minor-league deal

The Texas Rangers agreed to a minor-league contract with outfielder Kevin Pillar, the club announced Sunday.

Pillar played 100 games in 2024 split between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels. He slashed .229/.291/.377 with eight home runs, 45 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases.

The 36-year-old said he was planning to retire at the end of last season but had a change of heart after realizing he still had something left in the tank.

"I know I said I was gonna retire, but I'm entitled to take that back," Pillar said, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry.

"I've played this game for so long, I accomplished a lot of things in my career that I wanted to accomplish. I still had a bad taste in my mouth the way my individual season ended last year. … Sometimes you don't always get to choose your destiny in this game, and I ended up in the right place."

The veteran has long been known for his flashy defense and made starts at all three outfield positions last season.

Texas would be the 10th team Pillar has played for throughout his 12-year MLB career. His best years were with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2013-19 after they drafted him in the 32nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft.

Pillar owns a .700 OPS with 114 home runs in 1,214 career games.