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Yankees Select Billy McKinney

By Darragh McDonald | June 7, 2023 at 4:05pm CDT

The Yankees announced that they have selected the contract of outfielder Billy McKinney. He will take the active roster spot of Aaron Judge, who has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right great toe sprain. That move was reported on last night and is retroactive to June 4. To open a spot for McKinney on the 40-man roster, right-hander Ryan Weber was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

McKinney, 28, signed a minor league deal with the Yankees this winter and has been having a great season in Triple-A thus far. He’s walked in 13.8% of his plate appearances while striking out at a 20% clip. He has nine home runs and is slashing .274/.388/.511 for a wRC+ of 127.

However, minor league success is nothing new for McKinney. He has developed a pattern of raking in Triple-A and then scuffling in the majors, with various clubs around the league giving him chances that he’s failed to take advantage of. Dating back to 2018, he’s played for the Yankees, Blue Jays, Brewers, Mets, Dodgers and Athletics. He’s received 768 plate appearances in the big leagues but hit just .206/.277/.387 in those for a wRC+ of 77. His minor league slash line in that same time frame is .261/.359/.498 for a wRC+ of 123.

He’ll now get another shot to succeed in the show, which has been spurred on the Yankees’ outfield mix dealing with various injuries. Harrison Bader and Greg Allen were already on the injured list and now Judge is joining them, subtracting three options from the center field depth chart. McKinney is capable of playing all three outfield spots and first base, so will give them a bit of versatile depth alongside players like Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Giancarlo Stanton.

McKinney is out of options and can’t be sent back down to the minors without being exposed to waivers first. Even in that case, he’d have the right to elect free agency since he has a previous career outright. If he finally manages to break out against big league pitching, the Yankees could keep him around for quite a while via arbitration. He would cross three years of service time this year if he stays up and would be slated for free agency after 2026 if he continued to justify his roster spot.

As for Weber, he was placed on the injured list on the weekend due to a forearm strain. There’s still no official word on what’s next for him but the fact that he’s been transferred to the 60-day IL isn’t a good sign. He’ll now be ineligible until the first week of August at the earliest.

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New York Yankees Transactions Aaron Judge Billy McKinney Ryan Weber

Brewers Option Brice Turang, Reinstate Willy Adames
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Tigers, Nationals Relievers Drawing Trade Interest
View Comments (58)

Comments

  1. julyn82001

    4 months ago

    Billy!! It didn’t work for the A’s last year – they looked at him extensively – but this is a second chance so take advantage of, mate…

    8
    Reply
    • retired/advisory role

      4 months ago

      He your buddy or something?

      1
      Reply
  2. acoss13

    4 months ago

    Second time’s the charm?

    1
    Reply
    • Jgwi2az

      4 months ago

      More like 5th time.

      8
      Reply
      • Captain-Judge99

        4 months ago

        Maybe a future coach?

        2
        Reply
    • Jgwi2az

      4 months ago

      Ohhhh 2nd w NY Skankies

      1
      Reply
  3. NoSaint

    4 months ago

    After Oakland parted ways with him I though he was done.

    4
    Reply
    • retired/advisory role

      4 months ago

      If you can’t make it there….you can’t make it anywhere! Except New York!

      4
      Reply
      • NoSaint

        4 months ago

        @retired/advisory role

        LOL..I’ll… Start spreading the news…

        5
        Reply
      • Captain-Judge99

        4 months ago

        Hey tell that to the Twinkies, they pass failed physicals!

        1
        Reply
    • Captain-Judge99

      4 months ago

      Oh yes the Immortal McKinney!!!

      1
      Reply
  4. solaris602

    4 months ago

    Ok, your Bentley (Judge) is in the shop for repairs for a couple weeks or so, but never fear! We have a sparkling array of loaners to choose from to get you back on the road until your Bentley is ready! Choose from: 1980 Ford Pinto (McKinney), 1984 Dodge Omni (Rafael Ortega), a 1991 Saturn SC1 (Bauers), or a snazzy 1987 Yugo GV (Calhoun). Any one you like – you can’t go wrong!

    14
    Reply
    • ohyeadam

      4 months ago

      If any of those are still on the road at least you know they’ve got a decent engine. Even if it is a 1 stroke

      1
      Reply
    • Hemlock

      4 months ago

      > 1980 Ford Pinto (McKinney),
      > 1984 Dodge Omni (Rafael Ortega), a
      > 1991 Saturn SC1 (Bauers), or a snazzy
      > 1987 Yugo GV (Calhoun)

      I don’t know which I would rather smell, the inside of one of those loaners or this Canadian wildfire smoke

      4
      Reply
    • websoulsurfer

      4 months ago

      sol = POST OF THE DAY!!

      2
      Reply
    • thecoffinnail

      4 months ago

      Sorry but Bauers is in no way a Saturn. He actually has some power. He is the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria police interceptor with 386,000 miles.

      1
      Reply
      • Hemlock

        4 months ago

        Put some rust and bullet holes in that Crown Vic, throw in a case of Lucky Lager, and you got yourself a deal.

        Reply
  5. DCartrow

    4 months ago

    Billy McKinney was Ned Beatty’s least favorite player.

    2
    Reply
  6. CBA_Enjoyer

    4 months ago

    This is so pedantic of me, but in the official PR tweet the Yankees said they signed him to a Major League Contract, but I feel like that would imply he was a free agent (like how Aaron Hicks signed with the Orioles). I think the correct terminology would be that they selected his contract, which is what you guys used here.

    5
    Reply
  7. StudWinfield

    4 months ago

    I believe Weber will get more service time on the IL this year than ’21 and ’22 combined.

    3
    Reply
  8. Bright Side

    4 months ago

    The Yankees might still get something from the Aroldis Chapman trade of 2016.

    4
    Reply
    • JP8

      4 months ago

      That Torres guy might have something to say…

      3
      Reply
      • Captain-Judge99

        4 months ago

        Yeah exactly! What’s wrong with Gleyber? Smh

        2
        Reply
    • thecoffinnail

      4 months ago

      They struck out with the Andrew Miller trade not the Chapman trade. Not sure why Cashman thought he would be the guy to finally win a trade with Cleveland. I can’t remember the last trade they lost badly. That team just doesn’t make many mistakes.

      Reply
  9. Mikenmn

    4 months ago

    It’s hard to look at this without rolling your eyes. Not a fun year to be a Yankees fan.

    Reply
    • StudWinfield

      4 months ago

      It’s always fun being a Yankee fan. It’s not always fun dealing with Yankee fans.

      5
      Reply
      • thecoffinnail

        4 months ago

        It’s bandwagon and fair weather Yankee fans that are insufferable. I have always loved the Yankees and Cubs equally. (Spent my youth in both cities) Except in the dynasty years. Ugh I was embarrassed to be associated with the Yankee “fans” I would come across when going to their away games while traveling. I finally stopped wearing the cap and jersey and completely understand why their fans have the rep they do.

        Reply
  10. MPrck

    4 months ago

    BASEBALL CANCELLED TONIGHT………………IN N.Y. AND PHILADELPHIA …………SMOKE GOT IN THEIR EYES…

    3
    Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      4 months ago

      Man I wouldn’t want to play or go to a game in this stuff. I don’t blame them one bit.

      2
      Reply
    • riffraff

      4 months ago

      It was incredibly nasty this afternoon ( live on queens/nassau border) – letting up a little now but still a smart move postponing the game. What I don’t understand is why the wnba cancelled its indoor event.

      2
      Reply
      • Blue Baron

        4 months ago

        To prevent people traveling in the smoke to and from.

        Reply
      • YankeesBleacherCreature

        4 months ago

        They didn’t want people outside traveling to and from.

        Reply
      • thecoffinnail

        4 months ago

        They try to find reasons to cancel every event. I doubt it takes much time to refund the 16 tickets they sell to each game.

        Reply
  11. GangGreen23

    4 months ago

    Cliff Claven little known fact for the day ……..

    Oakland drafted McKinney 8 spots ahead of Aaron Judge in the same 2013 Amateur Draft.

    A’s did this despite already knowing alot about Judge, having drafted him in 2010 out of High School and being located in close proximity to where he played college ball at Fresno State.

    A’s gonna A’s.

    2
    Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      4 months ago

      “It’s a little known fact that the suntan became popular in what is now known as the Bronze Age”

      1
      Reply
      • GangGreen23

        4 months ago

        ” Regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers. ”

        4
        Reply
        • GangGreen23

          4 months ago

          ” Scientists say if pigs had thumbs and a language, they could be trained to do simple manual labor. They give you 20-30 years of loyal service and then at their retirement dinner you can eat them. .”

          1
          Reply
    • thecoffinnail

      4 months ago

      Judge fell out of injury fears. Just about every team had him on their radar but his size and the fact he was seen as a bit raw didn’t help either. Teams want a nearly finished product like Schwarber was when drafting college hitters high. Judge didn’t cement his spot with the Yankees until he was 25 and the injury concerns have definitely materialized. Why the Yankees keep (re)signing megadeals with oft injured players is baffling. Judge is a special player but when you only get 80 games a year out of him in his prime, that $40m a year should have been spent elsewhere.

      Reply
  12. Monkey’s Uncle

    4 months ago

    No way that Billy McKinney is only 28. He’s 106 at least.

    5
    Reply
    • HBan22

      4 months ago

      That was my exact reaction. I really can’t believe he’s only 28.

      1
      Reply
  13. Logjammer D"Baggagecling

    4 months ago

    This dude is still at it? That’s awesome. He’s been through so nucb in his career. Played for at least 6 different organizations. Was part of a historic trade. He was part of the aroldis Chapman to tbe cubs trade. One of the 3 players thrown in.

    And he’s only 28. I would’ve thought he was at least 31 – 32

    1
    Reply
  14. Yanks2

    4 months ago

    Waste of a roster spot. Would rather see Miggy or Pujols come out of retirement than McKinney make a foo out of himself with his lack of Major League talent

    2
    Reply
    • HBan22

      4 months ago

      Miggy is not retired. Your memory has a lack of talent as well.

      2
      Reply
      • Yanks2

        4 months ago

        Obviously. But his current spot on the team is equivalent to being retired

        Reply
    • larkraxm

      4 months ago

      Could not disagree more. I would much rather watch a young player learning than a washed up veteran playing out a contract that they got based on past performance. That is why we all celebrated Hicks getting DFA. One of our young players struggling may turn into lessons learned and development that pays dividends later on. A washed up veteran struggling has no potential to pay off for the organization later.

      1
      Reply
      • Blue Baron

        4 months ago

        @larkeaxm: McKinney is neither a prospect or a young player. He is what is known as an organization player aka roster-filler.

        1
        Reply
        • larkraxm

          4 months ago

          He is 28, or about 14 years younger than the suggested veteran players that you put forward. 40 plus year old veterans that haven’t performed in three years are roster holes not even roster fillers.

          Reply
    • Dr2022

      4 months ago

      True

      Reply
    • Blue Baron

      4 months ago

      @Yanks2: They probably don’t wish to play for the Yankees.

      Reply
  15. pando8888

    4 months ago

    What happened to Estevan Floria? Heard he is doing good in triple A. Seems like a better option then this.

    1
    Reply
    • deej

      4 months ago

      Florial in striking out 37% of the time at AAA.

      Reply
  16. GangGreen23

    4 months ago

    Florial is striking out in 37% of his At Bats, but he’s still managing to Hit .317 per his webpage below:

    mlb.com/player/estevan-florial-664314?stats=career…

    Guessing they prefer McKinney’s ability to make better Contact skills or perhaps his ability to play 1st Base in a pinch ?

    1
    Reply
    • dasit

      4 months ago

      florial is out of options as well and wouldn’t clear waivers

      3
      Reply
      • Cuso

        4 months ago

        He did earlier this year

        Reply
  17. boggie77

    4 months ago

    Should of kept K. Calhoun .

    Reply
  18. Yankee Mike

    4 months ago

    So Billy McKinney who has failed with 690 big league at bats is the better option than a true centerfielder who has been given all of 54 big league at bats and numbers are superior in EVERY category this year. Got it. The Yankees must really feel Florial can’t even hit .200. Can’t wait for the day he plays somewhere else.

    1
    Reply
    • solaris602

      4 months ago

      McKinney is a poor man’s Ryan Langerhans. Let that sink in for a moment.

      Reply
  19. madmc44

    4 months ago

    Billy may be getting into the lineup at just the right time;. The Red Sox are coming to town, and with Billy’s ability to hit AAA pitching he may get off to a good start against the Sox minor league staff with the exception of Paxton, Martin, and Jansen.

    Reply

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