Could the Yankees get at least some short-term outfield help from a former Yankee?
Billy McKinney, who made his MLB debut in pinstripes back in 2018, was designated for assignment by the Mets on Friday, the corresponding move for the Mets activating J.D. Davis from the 60-day injured list.
The Mets added McKinney on May 25, after he had been DFA by Milwaukee, and he hit .220 with five home runs, 14 RBI, and 11 walks for a team that was in dire need of outfield help when he was acquired.
McKinney was the last player left from the group the Mets brought up amidst their slew of outfield injuries in May and early June – the team decided to option Albert Almora to Triple-A at one point rather than lose McKinney – and Mets manager Luis Rojas said it was an “incredibly tough” decision to DFA him.
"Seasons are like this, right, they're full of a lot of tough decisions. This is a really tough conversation with a guy that came in and helped us so much in a situation where we're dealing with a lot of adversities,” Rojas said. “He came in and did everything we asked and more. He was always ready and willing to do whatever we needed. He helped us in a stretch that we were in need.”
Ultimately, Rojas pointed to flexibility as the reason for the move, as Davis, Jeff McNeil, and even Jose Peraza – who has played 65 games in the outfield in his career – can play both the infield and outfield, leaving the Mets safe with just one true outfielder (Kevin Pillar) behind Dom Smith, Brandon Nimmo, and Michael Conforto.
“Going through it and just examining some the things we had to do, it led to a tough decision. Us having a fifth outfielder and having some guys that have utility value in the infield and outfield, it led us to do the Billy McKinney move,” Rojas said. “It's a tough one, but sometimes, moves are tough and you still gotta do it and just pray for the best. We'll see what happens with Billy."
Overall in 2021, McKinney has hit .213 with eight home runs over 202 plate appearances, and the 26-year-old is a career .225 hitter over four seasons.
With Aaron Judge on the COVID IL and both Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar on the 10-day injured list with no return in sight, the Yankees brought up both Trey Amburgey and Greg Allen to add to an outfield down to Brett Gardner and recently-acquired Tim Locastro – and as a lefty hitter capable of playing both corners, with Yankee Stadium experience, McKinney may be a name on their radar.
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