Yankees Move Outfielder To Pirates

Given the deals that we've seen the New York Yankees make during the past week, moving outfielders shouldn't be surprising. 

Per Jack Curry of YES Network," The Yankees have traded outfielder Billy McKinney to the Pirates for cash considerations. McKinney had signed a minor league deal with the Yankees last week."

Billy McKinney, who played in 48 games for New York in 2023, gets an opportunity to play more with the Pirates. With the additions of Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo, it's tough to imagine much time for McKinney, especially when Jasson Dominguez returns in the future.

The 29-year-old is a former first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in 2013. He's played for the Yankees, Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers.

During the 2023 season, he hit six home runs and drove in 14 for the Yankees, while slashing .227/.320/.406.

Outside of the 2021 season with the Mets, this 48-game sample size was the best McKinney has played since 2019. 

Perhaps this is an indication that the Yankees are still actively looking for an additional outfielder. Rumors have circulated about the team not having Verdugo on the Opening Day roster.

While McKinney would not have been an every-game player and would have been used in a reserve role, there just wasn't room on the Yankees roster for him.

Whatever time he ends up getting with the Pirates will likely be more than what he would've received with New York and it also allowed the Yankees to get some money back.