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Mets Release Former Yankees Prospect Amid Subway Series

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Michael Obermuller | Last updated May 18, 2025 4:57 PM ET

The New York Mets and New York Yankees will play a rubber game tonight, on May 18, as the initial Subway Series of 2025 rolls on.

The Yankees took game one on Friday as Carlos Rodon outlasted Tylor Megill on the mound, yielding a 6-2 victory for the Bronx Bombers. Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt led the way with 2 RBI.

Then, on Saturday, a duel of pitching and defense ended in a 3-2 Mets win . Starter Griffin Canning and a collection of relievers, including Edwin Diaz in the ninth, held down the Yankees despite 2 solo home runs.

Considering the weekend's theme, there was a notable organizational cut on May 18, ahead of a highly anticipated game three on Sunday Night Baseball.

"The Mets released veteran outfielder Billy McKinney from Triple-A Syracuse," MLB.com beat writer Anthony DiComo reported on X.

The Mets released veteran outfielder Billy McKinney from Triple-A Syracuse.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 18, 2025

McKinney has bounced around the league for the better part of the past decade, but he made his MLB debut as a Yankees prospect back in 2018.

A former first-round pick of the Oakland Athletics in 2013, McKinney was traded twice before reaching the show.

Once from the A's to the Chicago Cubs, as part of a package for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. And then again as part of the Gleyber Torres and Adam Warren package that send Aroldis Chapman from the Yankees to Chicago.

Before long, the Yankees traded McKinney too, acquiring J.A. Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018. He spent a few years with the AL East rival before joining the Milwaukee Brewers off waivers.

McKinney eventually made his Yankees return in 2023, batting .227 over 48 appearances with 6 home runs and 14 RBI. He also spent some time with the Mets prior to his 2025 reunion, playing 39 games for the Amazin's in 2021 (.220 BA, 5 HR, 14 RBI).

Over the course of his long baseball career, McKinney holds a cumulative MLB batting average of .209 and an OPS of .669. At age 31 in August, it's safe to say he never quite panned out as a former first-round talent.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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