{"id":83479,"date":"2024-08-18T21:27:55","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T01:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=83479"},"modified":"2024-08-18T21:28:23","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T01:28:23","slug":"pirates-select-billy-mckinney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/08\/18\/pirates-select-billy-mckinney\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Pirates To Select Contract Of Former Yankee Outfielder"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Pittsburgh Pirates will select the contract of former New York Yankee outfielder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mckinbi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Billy McKinney<\/a> for Monday\u2019s game in Texas. Noah Hiles of the <em>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<\/em> was the first to break the story.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Sources: Outfielder Billy McKinney will join the Pirates in Texas. He is expected to be added to the 40-man roster before tomorrow\u2019s game.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_NoahHiles\/status\/1825311472022323539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Report: Pirates To Select Contract Of Former Yankee Outfielder McKinney<\/h2>\n<p>This will be the first major league action for the well-traveled McKinney, 29, in 2024. Last year with the Yankees, the left-handed-hitter hit .227\/.320\/.406, 6 HR, and 14 RBI. Lifetime, he\u2019s a .209\/.284\/.390 hitter with six major league teams. With Triple-A Indianapolis this season, he hit .298\/.403\/.460, 5 HR, and 18 RBI. However, this isn\u2019t the first time he\u2019s put together a good season with the bat in Triple-A. McKinney has yet to translate that hitting to the major leagues consistently. If nothing else, he\u2019s been persistent. He\u2019s played in 21 different cities between the major and minor leagues in 11 years. Pittsburgh will be city number 22.<\/p>\n<p>The Pirates <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/12\/16\/yankees-trade-billy-mckinney-pirates\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">purchased<\/a> McKinney from the Yankees in December and invited him to spring training. It looked like McKinney had a chance to break camp with the Pirates for a while\u00a0due to his ability to lay center field. However, McKinney\u2019s chances decreased when the Pirates <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/03\/15\/michael-a-taylor-signs-pirates\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">signed<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/taylomi02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael A. Taylor<\/a> to a $4 million contract.<\/p>\n<h3>Corresponding Move Coming<\/h3>\n<p>The corresponding move is unknown at this time. Somebody will have to be removed from the 40-man roster and the active roster to make room for McKinney. On Saturday, the Pirates placed designated hitter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mccutan01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrew McCutchen<\/a> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/08\/17\/pirates-mccutchen-injured-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">injured list<\/a> and called shortstop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willial04.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alika Williams<\/a> up from Triple-A to assume McCutchen\u2019s roster spot. Williams was a logical choice because regular shortstop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cruzon01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oneil Cruz<\/a> was bothered by leg issues. Cruz was the designated hitter on Saturday and returned to the field on Sunday. With Cruz able to play nine innings at shortstop without incident, the Pirates carry one too many middle infielders. It seems likely Williams will be returned to Triple-A after a brief stay. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/triolja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jared Triolo<\/a> may have been another possibility. But he might have saved his spot with Friday\u2019s home run.<\/p>\n<h3>How McKinney Fits With The Pirates<\/h3>\n<p>It was speculated here that a hitter might be brought up once Cruz proved healthy enough to take the field. Even so, McKinney is a surprise choice. As noted previously, there were younger hitters the Pirates may have wanted to look at when the opportunity presented itself. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/davishe01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Henry Davis<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=yorke-000nic&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Yorke<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=cook--000bil&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Billy Cook<\/a>, and, to a lesser extent, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/suwinja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jack Suwinski<\/a> seemed possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>What the choice of McKinney might indicate is that the Pirates still believe they are legitimate contenders in the National League Wild Card race. The Pirates might prefer McKinney\u2019s experience in that situation. Another consideration may have been concerns over a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/fantasy\/baseball\/news\/pirates-bryan-reynolds-back-in-lineup-sunday\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">lower back issue<\/a> with left fielder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/reynobr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bryan Reynolds<\/a>. Reynolds was held from the lineup on Saturday and served as the designated hitter on Sunday. The Pirates may have wanted McKinney for his good outfield defense while Reynolds recovers. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/30\/pirates-trade-de-la-cruz\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Newly acquired<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/delacbr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-18_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bryan De La Cruz<\/a> has been manning the spacious left field at PNC Park. However, De La Cruz is not a strong defensive outfielder. He\u2019d been playing right field with less territory to cover. After three games in Texas, the Bucs return home for seven games.<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word<\/h3>\n<p>Meanwhile, it remains to be seen how the Pirates will employ McKinney and what this means for his future. In light of the recent acquisitions of De La Cruz and Cook, the Pirates may not need McKinney beyond 2024. In any event, McKinney will welcome another opportunity to showcase his skills at the major league level. If it leads him to a 23rd city in 2025, he&#8217;ll surely jump at the opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credits: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pittsburgh Pirates will select the contract of former New York Yankee outfielder Billy McKinney for Monday\u2019s game in Texas. Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was the first to break the story. &nbsp; Sources: Outfielder Billy McKinney will join the Pirates in Texas. He is expected to be added to the 40-man roster before [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5010,"featured_media":83489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,1071],"tags":[3617,610,3306,5150,1374,4875,5720,6463,28666,3434],"class_list":["post-83479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pirates","category-mlb","tag-alika-williams","tag-andrew-mccutchen","tag-billy-mckinney","tag-bryan-de-la-cruz","tag-bryan-reynolds","tag-henry-davis","tag-jack-suwinski","tag-jared-triolo","tag-nick-yorke","tag-oneil-cruz"],"modified_by":"Evan Mazza, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83479"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83479\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}