Pirates' Billy McKinney: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates outrighted McKinney to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
McKinney went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment and will stick around in the organization. The veteran outfielder has posted a .526 OPS in 10 games with Pittsburgh this season.
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Pirates' Billy McKinney: DFA'd by Pittsburgh
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The Pirates designated McKinney for assignment Friday.
The 30-year-old was added to Pittsburgh's roster Aug. 19 but has been let go after he posted a .526 OPS in 10 games. McKinney could elect to become a free agent if he passes through waivers unclaimed.
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Pirates' Billy McKinney: Losing out on starts vs. righties
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McKinney is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.
For the second straight day, the lefty-hitting McKinney will find himself on the bench while the Pirates oppose a right-handed starter (Jameson Taillon). McKinney's brief run in a strong-side platoon role looks to have come to an end, as the Pirates are expected to deploy Bryan Reynolds and Bryan De La Cruz as their main starters in the corner outfield while Oneil Cruz sees more starts at designated hitter in the short term.
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Pirates' Billy McKinney: Hitting bench versus right-hander
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McKinney is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Though McKinney had picked up starts in each of the Pirates' last three matchups with right-handers, he'll give up his spot in the lineup to Yasmani Grandal while righty Nick Martinez takes the hill for the Reds. Since his call-up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, McKinney has gone 3-for-13 with an RBI, a run and six strikeouts.
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Pirates' Billy McKinney: Added to roster
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The Pirates selected McKinney's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
McKinney will provide some depth in the corner outfield and at first base. The 29-year-old is a career .209/.284/.390 hitter over parts of six major-league seasons and has posted an .846 OPS at Indianapolis in 2024.
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Pirates' Billy McKinney: Joining big club
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McKinney will travel with the Pirates on their road trip to Texas and is expected to be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to Monday's game against the Rangers, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Andrew McCutchen (knee) landed on the injured list Saturday, which will likely push Bryan De La Cruz to designated hitter in most scenarios. In turn, Pittsburgh will be shorthanded in the outfield, which could leave McKinney as the starting right fielder against right-handed pitching.
McKinney was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates in exchange for international bonus pool money Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
McKinney spent the 2023 season in the Yankees organization and agreed to a minor-league deal to return to the club earlier in the offseason. He should provide depth in the Pirates outfield but is unlikely to draw regular playing time, barring injury.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Returns to Yankees
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McKinney signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Friday, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
McKinney split the 2023 season between the Yankees and their Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, posting a .726 OPS with six homers over 48 games during his time with the big club. The 29-year-old will provide the Bronx Bombers with some veteran outfield depth.
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Billy McKinney: Hits free agent market
Rotowire
McKinney (back) elected to become a free agent Monday.
He'll test out free agency rather than accept the Yankees' outright assignment. McKinney missed the last several weeks of the season with a back injury and it's not clear what his current health situation is.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Placed on outright waivers
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The Yankees outrighted McKinney (back) to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Back spasms kept McKinney out of action since late August, and he'll now lose his spot on the Yankees' 40-man roster. The 29-year-old outfielder has the option to become a free agent and should be able to secure at least a minor-league deal after posting a .726 OPS with New York.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Placed on 10-day IL
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The Yankees placed McKinney on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left lower-back spasm.
This back stiffness first popped up late last week and McKinney may have aggravated when he returned to action in Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox. The 28-year-old outfielder was slashing just .184/.304/.263 in 46 plate appearances since the calendar flipped to August.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Rejoins lineup for series finale
Rotowire
McKinney (back) will start in left field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
A stiff back kept McKinney on the bench for Saturday's 8-1 loss, but he'll draw back into the lineup Sunday to make his third start in four games. McKinney is without a clear path to an everyday spot in the Yankees outfield, but he should play at least semi-regularly against right-handed pitching while manager Aaron Boone occasionally hands rest days to the likes of Giancarlo Stanton, Jake Bauers and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Battling back stiffness
Rotowire
McKinney's absence from the lineup Saturday against the Red Sox is due to a stiff back, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
McKinney's back stiffness may be part of the reason he's hit just .184/.304/.263 over his last 15 games. Greg Allen starts in left field in his absence.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Homers Thursday
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McKinney went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Astros.
McKinney extended the Yankees' lead to 3-0 with a blast in the first inning off Cristian Javier, his sixth long ball of the year. McKinney's seen his playing time take a hit following the return of Aaron Judge -- Thursday's start was just McKinney's second in New York's last six games. Overall, the 28-year-old McKinney is slashing .237/.315/.474 with 14 runs scored, 12 RBI and a stolen base through 108 plate appearances this season.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Loses hold of platoon role
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McKinney is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.
The lefty-hitting McKinney finds himself on the bench against a right-handed starting pitcher (Tyler Glasnow) for the third game in a row, a clear sign that he's no longer viewed as a strong-side platoon player in the wake of Aaron Judge's return from the injured list. At least for the time being, the lefty-hitting Jake Bauers appears to be the top option at the corner-outfield spot opposite Judge. Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Greg Allen will likely replace Bauers in the corner outfield when the Yankees face left-handed pitching.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Heads to bench versus lefty
Rotowire
McKinney is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.
The Yankees will roll out a right-handed-hitting outfield of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Harrison Bader and Giancarlo Stanton against Mets southpaw Jose Quintana, leaving no room in the lineup for the lefty-hitting McKinney. He had started in center field or left field in each of the last four games, going 3-for-8 with a home run, five walks, four runs, three RBI and a stolen base.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Reaches three times Saturday
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McKinney went 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs and a stolen base against Kansas City in Saturday's 5-2 win.
McKinney set the table from the leadoff spot for New York, reaching base three times and scoring two of the team's five runs. It was the first time the outfielder has batted leadoff this season, and the start was just his third since the All-Star break. McKinney is starting again Sunday, this time batting seventh and playing left field, per Max Goodman of The Newark Star-Ledger.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Sitting Monday
Rotowire
McKinney is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Angels.
McKinney will be on the bench after he went 0-for-4 with a run scored and four strikeouts while starting one game during the Yankees' series in Colorado. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will draw another start in left field and bat seventh for the series opener in Los Angeles.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Not starting Friday
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McKinney isn't in the Yankees' lineup Friday against Colorado, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.
McKinney has just two hits in his last 10 games, and he'll sit out the first game of the second half as the Rockies send southpaw Austin Gomber to the mound. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will take over in left field and bat seventh.
