McKinney elected to become a free agent Monday.
McKinney was booted off the 40-man roster following a brief two-game stint with the Rangers, and he has decided to test out free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The 30-year-old could wind up re-signing with Texas on a minor-league deal, but he will be available to the other 29 clubs as well.
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Rangers' Billy McKinney: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Rangers outrighted McKinney to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.
McKinney has the ability to decline the outright assignment and become a free agent, but it's unclear what his plans are. The 30-year-old went 1-for-7 across two contests during his brief stint with the Rangers.
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Rangers' Billy McKinney: DFA'd by Texas
Rotowire
McKinney was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Friday.
McKinney's time with the big club lasted a mere four days, with the 30-year-old going 1-for-7 across two contests. The journeyman will clear out to make room for Evan Carter (personal), and McKinney will now be subjected to waivers.
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Rangers' Billy McKinney: Contract selected
Rotowire
The Rangers selected McKinney's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.
The veteran outfielder inked a minor-league deal with Texas in late May and will receive his first look in the big leagues this season. It'll likely be a short stay in the majors for McKinney, since Evan Carter (personal) should soon be back from the bereavement list.
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Rangers' Billy McKinney: Inks MiLB deal with Rangers
Rotowire
McKinney signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday.
McKinney was cut loose by the Mets on May 18 after slashing .184/.285/.307 across 130 plate appearances in Triple-A. Now with the Rangers, the 30-year-old outfielder will likely remain an organizational depth piece and isn't likely to receive a call-up to Texas.
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Billy McKinney: Cut loose by Mets
Rotowire
The Mets released McKinney from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
McKinney inked a minor-league contract with the Mets in March but didn't appear in an MLB game. Instead, he appeared in 33 games for Syracuse, slashing .184/.285/.307 with three home runs and a 26.2 percent strikeout rate.
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Mets' Billy McKinney: Returning to Queens
Rotowire
McKinney agreed to a minor-league contract with the Mets on Friday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The 30-year-old spent last season in the Pirates organization, making 10 appearances in the majors and 43 at Triple-A. McKinney could see some action in the majors this season, but his primary role will likely be as outfield depth at Triple-A Syracuse.
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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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
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Yankees' Billy McKinney: Returns to Yankees
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
