Jonathan Villar - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Signs with Seattle Villar signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Impact Villar elected to become a free agent after being designated for assignment by the Angels, and he decided to head up the coast and join the Mariners. While Villar will begin his Mariners tenure in the minors, he could get a shot to show what he can do with the big club before the campaign comes to a close.

AUGUST 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Elects free agency Villar cleared waivers and elected free agency Friday.

Impact Villar was designated for assignment by the Angels last weekend but will choose to test free agency rather than remaining in the organization. The 31-year-old has slashed .208/.260/.302 with three homers, 25 runs, 18 RBI and seven steals over 59 games in the majors this year.

JULY 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ward, Detmers help Angels cool off Braves with 9-1 rout

Taylor Ward homered in a five-run first, Reid Detmers pitched five scoreless innings and the Los Angeles Angels cooled off the Atlanta Braves with a 9-1 victory

JULY 24, 2022 • Associated Press

Designated for assignment Villar was designated for assignment by the Angels on Sunday.

Impact Villar was signed by the Angels on July 1 after he was released by the Cubs, but he will now likely hit the open market again. While with Los Angeles, he produced an unimpressive .163 average with a homer, three RBI, six runs and a stolen base while striking out 17 times in 49 at-bats over 13 games. The move created an open spot on the 40-man roster for Magneuris Sierra, who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.

JULY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pops third homer Villar went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's 8-1 loss to Atlanta.

Impact His ninth-inning shot off Will Smith ruined Atlanta's shutout bid, but the Angels only managed five hits in total on the night. The homer was Villar's first as an Angel and third of the year, but the veteran infielder hasn't done much at the plate since coming over from the Cubs, slashing .178/.245/.244 through 50 plate appearances with Los Angeles. With David Fletcher (hip) and Matt Duffy (back) both inching closer to returns, Villar is running out of time just to stake his claim to a roster spot for the rest of the season, much less a regular role.

JULY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Feeble much of night, Braves erupt for 8-1 win over Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani threw six dominant innings, only to surrender homers to Matt Olson and Orlando Arcia in an outburst that carried the Atlanta Braves to an 8-1 win over the Los Angeles...

JULY 23, 2022 • Associated Press

Drops to sixth in order Villar will start at third base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Orioles, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact In each of his first six games with the Angels, Villar had served as the team's leadoff man, but he managed a paltry .208/.240/.208 slash line over that stretch. Though Villar will stick in the lineup Sunday and should be the Angels' primary third baseman while Matt Duffy (back) is on the injured list, interim manager Phil Nevin has seemingly chosen to pull the plug on Villar as the team's table setter, at least against right-handed pitching. Taylor Ward sits atop the lineup Sunday against Orioles right-hander Austin Voth.

JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes first bag as Angel Villar went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Marlins.

Impact The veteran utility player nabbed his seventh steal of the year, but his first in three games since coming to the Angels from the Cubs. Villar's 2-for-12 performance at the plate so far for Anaheim isn't impressive, but he'll continue getting chances to fill the void at third base created in the wake of Anthony Rendon's season-ending wrist injury.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Third straight leadoff assignment Villar will start at third base and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Marlins, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Villar will get his third consecutive turn out of the leadoff spot, despite having reached base just once while striking out four times through his first eight plate appearances with the Angels. Though Villar is getting a look as the Angels' everyday third baseman after Matt Duffy (back) recently joined Anthony Rendon (wrist) on the injured list, don't expect him to have a long leash as the team's table setter if he doesn't start producing soon.

JULY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Hitless in Angels debut Villar went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts Sunday in a loss to the Astros.

Impact Villar slotted in as the Angels' leadoff hitter and starting third baseman in his first game with the club, but he didn't have much of an impact on the team's slumping offense. The veteran walked in his second at-bat but didn't otherwise reach base. Villar is expected to take over as Los Angeles' primary third baseman while Matt Duffy (back) remains on the injured list, but it isn't certain if he'll take on leadoff duties on a frequent basis.

JULY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Angels hope Jonathan Villar can boost lagging offense The 31-year-old, released Wednesday by the Cubs, will play third base as the Angels hope to get more production from their infielders

JULY 2, 2022 • DAILYNEWS.COM

Not in Saturday's lineup Villar isn't starting Saturday against the Astros, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Impact Villar signed with the Angels on Friday, but he won't start Saturday's matchup. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench, but David MacKinnon is starting at the hot corner and batting sixth.

JULY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Signs with Angels Villar agreed to a deal with the Angels on Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Villar struggled through 46 games for the Cubs, hitting just .222/.271/.327 before getting released in late June. He did post above-average batting lines in both 2019 and 2021 and shouldn't be too far over the hill at age 31, however, so there's a chance he can carve out regular at-bats among a group of unimpressive infield options in Anaheim.

JULY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Let go by Cubs The Cubs released Villar on Tuesday.

Impact The Cubs dropped Villar from their 40-man roster Friday, and as anticipated, none of MLB's other 29 teams were willing to put in a waiver claim for the 31-year-old, who was playing on a $6 million salary in 2022. Since Villar likely wouldn't have been receptive to a minor-league assignment to Triple-A Iowa, the Cubs instead opted to let the veteran explore his options elsewhere. Even though he produced a lowly .598 OPS in 166 plate appearances for the Cubs this season, Villar's speed and ability to play multiple infield spots could be enough for another club to bring him aboard on a lower-cost deal.

JUNE 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Should New York Mets Bring Back Jonathan Villar? Should New York Mets bring back Jonathan Villar?

JUNE 27, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Designated for assignment Villar was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact The 31-year-old was originally in the lineup for Friday's matchup with the Cardinals, but the Cubs instead opted to remove him from the 40-man roster and reinstate David Bote (shoulder/head) from the 60-day injured list. Villar joined Chicago on a one-year, $6 million deal in March but struggled to a .222/.271/.327 slash line with two home runs, 15 RBI and six stolen bases in 46 games.

JUNE 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Mooney: The Cubs DFA'd Jonathan Villar and activated... - The Athletic The Cubs DFA’d Jonathan Villar and activated David Bote.

JUNE 24, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Takes seat Tuesday Villar is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Villar will take a seat after he picked up starts in the infield in eight of the Cubs' last nine contests. Andrelton Simmons will get a look at second base in his stead, but Villar is projected to serve as the primary option at that position until Nick Madrigal (groin) is ready to return from the 10-day injured list.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Enters lineup Saturday Villar will start at third base and bat fifth in Saturday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Villar got Friday off but will enter the lineup with Patrick Wisdom getting a breather. The versatile 31-year-old got off to a hot start this season, though he's batting just .100 this month with a .382 OPS across eight games. Villar's last multi-hit performance came back on May 21.

JUNE 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Braves' 14-game win streak, Cubs' 10-game skid, both end

The Chicago Cubs became the first team in 23 years to stop a losing streak of 10 or more game while ending an opponent’s winning streak of at least 10 games, beating the Braves 1-0...

JUNE 17, 2022 • Associated Press

Takes seat Friday Villar is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Villar was returned from the injured list last week and started the past five games, but he'll head to the bench after going 2-for-19 with an RBI, two runs and a stolen base during that stretch. He should continue to see increased playing time at second base until Nick Madrigal (groin) rejoins the active roster, though it's Andrelton Simmons who starts at the keystone Friday.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Starts at 2B with Madrigal on IL Villar will start at second base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Padres.

Impact With Nick Madrigal (groin) landing on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Villar looks like he'll get the first chance at replacing him in the everyday lineup. Villar had already started the past three games at the keystone in place of Madrigal, going 0-for-11 with a stolen base.

JUNE 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Filling in for ailing Madrigal Villar will start at second base and bat eighth Tuesday against the Padres.

Impact Villar will make his third consecutive start at the keystone, but his playing time will likely take a hit in the near future as long as Nick Madrigal (groin) is able to avoid a stint on the injured list. Once Madrigal is back in action, Villar is expected to move into a utility role.

JUNE 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Trevino ends stalemate, red-hot Yankees edge Cubs 2-1 in 13

Pinch-hitter Jose Trevino finally broke a stalemate in the 13th inning with a game-winning single that gave the New York Yankees a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs

JUNE 11, 2022 • Associated Press

Cubs cut Frazier, put Stroman on IL; Miley hurt again

Outfielder Clint Frazier was designated for assignment in a surprise decision by the Chicago Cubs, who also placed pitcher Marcus Stroman on the 15-day injured list with right shou...

JUNE 10, 2022 • Associated Press

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Ward, Detmers help Angels cool off Braves with 9-1 rout

Feeble much of night, Braves erupt for 8-1 win over Ohtani

Braves' 14-game win streak, Cubs' 10-game skid, both end

Trevino ends stalemate, red-hot Yankees edge Cubs 2-1 in 13

Cubs cut Frazier, put Stroman on IL; Miley hurt again