The Dodgers announced they’ve acquired outfielder Billy McKinney from the Mets for outfield prospect Carlos Rincon. New York had designated McKinney for assignment earlier in the week. To create space on the roster, Los Angeles designated reliever Jake Reed for assignment.
McKinney has already suited up for the Brewers and Mets this season. Between the two clubs, he’s compiled a .213/.282/.415 line with eight home runs across 202 plate appearances. That’s more or less a match for the left-handed hitter’s career .225/.288/.430 line in parts of four seasons.
The 26-year-old strikes out a bit more than average and doesn’t draw many walks — thus the low on-base percentage — but he has a fair amount of power. Over 613 MLB plate appearances (roughly one full season), McKinney has popped 26 home runs. He owns a .205 ISO (slugging minus batting average) that checks in a fair bit north of the .163 league average.
McKinney is out of minor league options. The Dodgers will have to keep him on the active roster or again make him available to other clubs. He’ll add a lefty bat to the corner outfield/bench mix and could pick up some playing time against right-handers when L.A. rests A.J. Pollock. Pollock’s having a second straight very strong season, but he’s had his share of injury issues in the past.
The Dodgers selected Reed two weeks ago, positioning the righty to log his first big league action. Reed has since tossed 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball, striking out five while issuing a pair of walks. The former Twins’ prospect has a 5.57 ERA across 21 innings in Triple-A this year, split between the Angels’ and Dodgers’ top affiliates. To Reed’s credit, he’s been much better since joining the Dodgers organization and his minor league strikeout and walk rates (29.5% and 7.4%, respectively) have been impressive.
Los Angeles will have a week to trade Reed or expose him to waivers. Between his recent success and three remaining minor league option years, it’s possible another club adds him via a minor transaction.
In exchange for McKinney, the Mets add Rincon to the farm system. The 23-year-old corner outfielder has spent the year with Double-A Tulsa, hitting .263/.343/.470 with 12 home runs across 265 plate appearances despite playing in a pitcher-friendly league. Rincon has big raw power but scouts have expressed trepidation about his approach at the plate and lack of defensive value as a corner player.
All around “meh” trade. Mets get a “meh” outfield prospect a couple years away (if ever) from being called up, dodgers get a “meh” outfielder in exchange who can play now. Meh.
And with the dodgers pitching struggles, dfa’ing reed seems ridiculous
This was more of a situation where he was DFA’ed and out of options so instead of just dropping him they figured they’d get something back. Solid assessment though I do think Rincon has some interesting potential.
all around “meh” comment for the obvious “meh” trade for a DFA player.
Agreed ….. nothing more than meh
Shut up, meh.
Crap….I was hoping that the Pirates would take a flyer on him.
The Mets need to make a trade with the Pirates for LSP Tyler Anderson, RC Richard Rodriguez, and IF/OF Phil Evans who was a Met 2 years ago but Brodie left him unprotected so the Bucs got him. Evans was good for the Bucs in 2020 but this year he has been injured but he is making his way back to health. Evans played 2B, 3B, 1B, LF and RF for the Mets, and he also played 2 games at SS. He hit well enough for the Mets at around 265 so adding him to the roster, and helping him recover from injury could be really providential for the Mets. He played 3B very well with the Mets. Guillorme and Villar are now manning SS while getting Evans would help balance out the Davis/Villar 3B combo, and hopefully help Davis with his grave fielding deficiencies. Richard Rodriguez is a really good closer who rarely blows saves unlike the Mets curse named Edwin Diaz. Unfortunately we will have to send SS Ronnie Mauricio, 3B Mark Vientos, LF/2B Carlos Cortez, C Matt Singer, and RSP Tony Dibrell to get these much needed Bucs. The Cubs roster will cost more than the Mets can afford. If we spending this much on the Pirates player we would be sending the Cubs Alvarez, Ginn, Vientos, and Mauricio to get Zach Davis who is below Anderson as a SP, 3B/OF Kris Bryant, and whatever decent reliever they have available. Other than Davis who is not a good starter, all of these guys are rentals. Seems like a lot to pay for summer rentals from the Cubs???
There’s no way you give up top prospects for a Scott Boras client, they never sign and always enter free agency. They can get a deal done using lesser minor leaguers
There goes the next Justin Turner
Or the next Max Muncy. Or the next Chris Taylor.
The Dodgers really seem to bring out the best in other teams’ failed prospects. Must be that pact with the devil.
Magic’s magic?
Yep. He’ll probably hit 20 HR down the stretch for the trolley Dodgers and tear it up in the post season.
They might as well just give McKinney his MVP Award now
Some already have. I mean he must be a lot better than he looks if the Dodgers traded for him, right?
He’s actually hitting 50 points higher than Bellinger….so there’s that.
So is dino ebel
Solid pickup and depth piece if restricted to facing RH’d pitchers.
This kind of acquisition makes me wonder if Belli or Betts are about to hit the IL….
At this point Bellinger IS producing as much as someone on the IL.
Mired in a terrible slump for sure, but there are few that run down balls in CF like Belli and that shouldnt be overlooked.
-0.3 WAR says it all.
What is your fascination with Bellinger? Nobody is disputing that he is in a slump. You’re arguing with yourself, Linda.
Slump??? Since June of his MVP season he’s been statistically average player. Let’s get over that he’s some star because he hit a few timely hr’s and is a decent fielder. Dude is far from an MVP caliber player. Does he have options left because that’s where he should be right now.
Why do you care? You have enough to worry about with your 3rd place Madres.
I’m a Dodgers fan. Been one since 68’.
He had less than one terrible month to start 2020, then he had a 900 and 800 OPS the other two months. Even as a total with the bad month, he was on a 4.5 win pace and he was *not* just a league average bat. And I Didn’t realize his 872 OPS from August 1 thru end of September doesn’t count because his first 2 Weeks were horrible. Guess he just sucked the whole time! Who needs facts!
It’s amazing how many Dodger fans seem to root for Bellinger to fail and can’t wait to tell other fans how right they were that he would fail. You’re far from alone. But at least use facts..
@ sdbaseballguy… Dudes are ALWAYS far from MVP caliber when they are in a slump. And if you think he’s just a “decent fielder” then your judgement is highly questionable. Lastly, yes, he’s in a slump. .161 this season is quite a bit below his norm. Why is that so hard to admit?
Facts!!! I say it all THe time. His timely homers don’t make me forget that he’s trash. Defensive specialist making all-star money
Good point. I’d guess Betts. It seems he’s really hurting. Bellinger probably could use some time off to get his head straight but I doubt he’s going to get it. Pollock is pretty much the only other guy who can play CF until Seager returns and gives them the option with Taylor.
That was my thought, Betts to DL. He already can’t play 4 straight days.
I liked McKinney and wouldn’t mind seeing him in the Mets organization again. Happy Mets got something for him.
Mckinney on the move because he’s out of options. Do players like the options rule so they can keep trying out with other teams?
I’d imagine that they prefer it since they can at least have a chance to be claimed and play in the MLB as opposed to being sent down and losing out on gaining service time in the majors.
McKinney maybe gives the Dodgers the lefty bat they hoped Tsutsugo would have
Tsutsugo was red hot at OKC. Makes you think they don’t have much faith in him to go out and trade as opposed to bring him back up.
I’d say this trade in general this trade speaks to their lack of confidence in basically any of the OKC Of’ers being successful in the majors at the moment
both Raley and Tsutsugo have hit very well in okc and looked overmatched in the majors
As a Mets fan why to I see McKinney hitting a pinch hit home run against Diaz in the ninth inning!
Because EVERYBODY hits pinch hit home runs against Diaz in the ninth.
McKinney gave us a nice boost when we needed it.
Wouldn’t go as far as saying he provided a boost, he was more of an able body needed to fill out the roster at a time of need.
Dodgers LH OF subs have been highly ineffectual: Tsutsugo, Reks, Raley. Dodgers RH OF subs have not gotten it done either: Peters, Souza.
For a team with incredible depth in the system – the OF is looking like a real outlier this year.
…add peters.
McKinstry has done well. Eventually they have to bring up or trade Ruiz – cannot keep blocking him with will smith…either stick with smith or trade ruiz
They no longer have incredible depth in the system. The Dodgers currently have one prospect in the pitching top 100 and two in the position players top 100.
How many teams normally have more than 5 starting caliber outfielders? Bellinger, Betts, pollock, Taylor, McKinstry. Then add at least 3 more guys on options
By your logic, every team is short in the outfield. How many more outfielders do you guys expect them to carry on a 26 man roster
In the end, you’re upset the prospects in AAA appear to be AAAA guys more than major league quality. But you’re also complaining that 8 outfielders on the depth chart isn’t nearly enough. like really?
Not by my logic, or connected in any way to anything I actually said. Maybe some day you will begin to respond to something I have actually said, but that day is not today.
many LA Fans seem to think they have the best no matter what anyone says.
I mentioned how LA prospect pipe of upper echelon players has been depleted which happens to many WS teams as they use them as pieces to sell. From what I have seen many of their traded top prospects didnt pan out for other teams. That is a testament to their knowledge of knowing which ones were expendable and which were not.
Outside of Ruiz/Gray/Pepiot there is not much as Busch seems further away then he was beginning the year.
other than that it has bunch of failures so far Peters, neuse, Raks, etc…
‘
I don’t know that this is a special affliction of Dodgers fans but I do hear how any move Friedman makes is an automatic stroke of genius, and good luck pointing out when it works out otherwise. The depletion isn’t exactly unexpected. They graduated a lot of talent over a short time so now they’re in a bit of a trough without a lot of good ways to get out of it. I believe one the reasons the Padres are so willing to spend big now is they see this vulnerability as well and their farm is still rich in talent.
Its pretty simple. Youre Complaining Blue about outfield depth. I pointed out LA has 5 starting caliber players deep, plus 3-4 AAA guys who were thought to be MLB ready based on AAA stats. I’d argue no other mlb team had that level of OF depth on their 40 man to start the year
What more do you want for depth? What move do you feel was a bad move? What more did you want to happen? At this point, you’re sitting here after the fact with an insane number of missed OF’er games on the 40 man, and saying “HOW COULD THEY BE SO DUMB!?”
Let’s start with yes, they’re light on depth In in the OF. Not arguing otherwise
But the number of at bats the Raley/Reks/McKinney’s etc are getting is in no small part due to the true backup outfielders needing to start elsewhere, or being hurt themselves. The 2 super subs are Taylor and McKinstry, and for a while both were hurt simultaneously, and they’ve been needed all over since they’ve returned. My point is, I think even last years dodgers would have seemed “light” on depth if they had this many significant injuries that overlapped. I don’t think even keeping Kike changes this year from feeling light. I’d bet all 30 teams feel light this year in depth
Did we conveniently forget Matt Beaty who has done a very credible job as a backup LH hitting outfielder?
Maybe they’ll take Reed off the Dodgers’ live series collection on The Show now. Dude is way overpriced lol.
Give him about a week or two, he will be cut loose maybe they think he will clear to put him into AAA.
So he’s been with the Brewers, Mets and now Dodgers. Taking a tour of the NL division leaders. When will the Dodgers trade him to Houston or one of the Sox?
Too bad the Dodgers haven’t been a division leader for a long while
They are 9 outs away from being the division leader.
Completely spaced on the Giants playing well this year. I knew the Padres weren’t in first place, which would leave the Dodgers.
Yeah but the Giants aren’t going anywhere in October so do they really matter?
Looking forward to a Dodgers’ OF alignment that features McKinney and McKinstry. Now if only LA can pry the other Max Muncy away from OAK, they’d have a lineup card suitable for framing.
This looks like a bad trade before McKinney flopped last night.
Not Friedman’s best work