billy mckinney appreciation thread; traded to mets 25 may

[djoctagone]

billy mckinney deserves some love. at the start of spring training, he seemed to be a long shot to make the roster--with his most glaring weakness the inability to play center field. in fact, the brewers went out and acquired another out-of-options outfielder who could play center in derek fisher.

 

but the brewers found their alternate center fielder, and a strong spring and an injury to fisher helped cement mckinney's spot on the 26-man roster.

 

it's really been fun watching him play.

[Hopper]

Can he play a serviceable 1B?

That is my question.

If so, he is just that much more valuable.

We have such a log jam in the OF once Yelich and Cain return.

Yelich, Cain, Garcia, Bradley, McKinney, and Taylor.

If McKinney can play a decent 1B, that would help in the quest to get him in the line-up.

Hiura has to be sent down if his struggles continue.

We just can't have him doing what he is doing at the MLB level.

[RobDeer 45]

Since the first time I saw him swing I thought, I hope this guy makes the team. It just looks so natural. Now he comes out and has a hot bat! Really like the guy and hope he can keep it up. Just last night I was thinking about him at 1st. Did he say in an interview he was thankful for his last team starting to play him at first base which made him more valuable? Or was that someone else? Either way get this guy in the lineup!

[Lathund]

Wong being activated will mean Peterson gets DFAd. Yelich being activated will mean Taylor getting optioned, both those things should happen by the end of the weekend. Now, Cain coming off the IL is where it gets interesting. They could option Hiura if he's still struggling, and use McKinney and Vogelbach at 1B. If they keep Hiura on the 26-man, then I would think they're more eager to keep McKinney over Vogelbach, as much as I think they like his approach. Being limited to 1B only would count against Diesel Dan. I don't think keeping a 12-man pitching staff is a realistic option anymore.

 

I would expect they'll want to keep McKinney, even without getting too caught up in his current hot streak. JBJ could opt out after this year (Right now I hope he does. But it's still very early), Garcia has an expensive option, Cain will be a year older. Having another cheap in-house option with some upside for LF/RF/1B is surely something they want. Yelich, Cain, McKinney, Taylor is a solid foundation for a 2022 OF, with the choice to retain Garcia if they want to.

 

It's kinda funny how these things happen. If Fisher doesn't get injured, I suspect he gets the roster spot over McKinney; being CF-capable and having been actively traded for.

[djoctagone]

Wong being activated will mean Peterson gets DFAd. Yelich being activated will mean Taylor getting optioned, both those things should happen by the end of the weekend. Now, Cain coming off the IL is where it gets interesting. They could option Hiura if he's still struggling, and use McKinney and Vogelbach at 1B. If they keep Hiura on the 26-man, then I would think they're more eager to keep McKinney over Vogelbach, as much as I think they like his approach. Being limited to 1B only would count against Diesel Dan. I don't think keeping a 12-man pitching staff is a realistic option anymore.

the brewers are currently carrying 14 pitchers. with the three aforementioned position players expected to come off the injured list, i wouldn't rule out a pitcher being subtracted and going with 13/13.

[Outlander]

It is much easier to just option somebody from the shuttle than DFA a guy like Vogelbach or McKinney. It sure seems like Fisher is headed to a DFA whenever he gets healthy though.

[SRB]

I don't see them optioning Hiura when the minors haven't even started yet. Maybe if we had other non-injured options at 2B who hadn't been equally bad to worse.

[Warning Track Power]

I don't think Vogelbach or McKinney are going anywhere anytime soon. They are both post-hype prospects that needed more time to blossom and appear to be doing so in Milwaukee. They aren't being counted on to carry the team but to play the roles that they are currently in. McKinney as the 4th OF type and Vogelbach as the DH/backup 1B/PH. I wouldn't love giving McKinney a starting gig in the OF at the expense of losing Garcia or JBJ after 2021 but if he continues playing the way he is, I wouldn't mind him in a soft platoon once Cain leaves or retires after 2022. I would give Big Dan a bit more time at 1B to see if he can get some consistency at the plate and I anticipate this occurring when Wong comes of the IL.

[umphrey]

I think if optioning Hiura gave him 1-2 weeks off but let us keep a fringe player we liked, we would do it

[rickh150]

Great catch..... he’ll be linked with SD and great catch in the corner for the rest of his career.... just like Pacorek in left in Baltimore.

[Jopal78]

Wong being activated will mean Peterson gets DFAd. Yelich being activated will mean Taylor getting optioned, both those things should happen by the end of the weekend. Now, Cain coming off the IL is where it gets interesting. They could option Hiura if he's still struggling, and use McKinney and Vogelbach at 1B. If they keep Hiura on the 26-man, then I would think they're more eager to keep McKinney over Vogelbach, as much as I think they like his approach. Being limited to 1B only would count against Diesel Dan. I don't think keeping a 12-man pitching staff is a realistic option anymore.

 

I would expect they'll want to keep McKinney, even without getting too caught up in his current hot streak. JBJ could opt out after this year (Right now I hope he does. But it's still very early), Garcia has an expensive option, Cain will be a year older. Having another cheap in-house option with some upside for LF/RF/1B is surely something they want. Yelich, Cain, McKinney, Taylor is a solid foundation for a 2022 OF, with the choice to retain Garcia if they want to.

 

It's kinda funny how these things happen. If Fisher doesn't get injured, I suspect he gets the roster spot over McKinney; being CF-capable and having been actively traded for.

 

Maybe, but there was just an article in The Athletic about McKinney where Stearns stated they claimed McKinney late in 2020 for “the future” because they were surprised, given where they had him evaluated, he was put on waivers in the first place.

[CheeseheadInQC]

High school picks who have the kind of start to their careers in the minors that McKinney did don't completely bust all that often. I'd kind of though McKinney was going to be the exception, but hopefully this is a sign he is not.

[FVBrewerFan]

I would look to trade Garcia for a righty who can play 3B/1B. Split of same kind with Vogelbach, probably over 50%, and can play 3B at times to give Shaw a blow.

Send Hiura down, even all season if it works out that way. Roll with McKinney in RF, JBJ still gets a ton of ABs and Taylor is 5th OF.

 

To me that's the solution, but easier said than done.

[Hopper]

I'd make any one of Cain, JBJ and Garcia available for trade.

Trading partner take your pick!

With the emergence of McKinney and Taylor, we don't need them all.

If that means getting a legit 1B or 3B, do it.

If that means getting a #3 or #4 starting pitcher that is better than what we currently have, do it.

I can't see anyone come calling for Cain or Bradley, but just in case they do, do it.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Cain, JBJ or Garcia aren't going anywhere. Once Yelich and Cain come back, McKinney will go back to his pinch hitting and occasional spot start role, and Taylor will go back to the alternate site. This was all part of the plan. They wanted better depth on the 2021 team, and they have it. They aren't going to sacrifice that depth now just because McKinney and Taylor have looked pretty good in their small samples.

[CheezWizHed]

I wasn't expecting a Garcia trade right now, but depending on circumstances perhaps could see it at the deadline. Even if he isn't, he is a FA next year. Right now, Garcia is almost matching his last year output (more SLG, less OBP) and certainly not someone that "must" be in the line-up. A platoon in right wouldn't be out of the question either. Both of their career splits would support that, too.

[StearnsFTW]

Cain, JBJ or Garcia aren't going anywhere. Once Yelich and Cain come back, McKinney will go back to his pinch hitting and occasional spot start role, and Taylor will go back to the alternate site. This was all part of the plan. They wanted better depth on the 2021 team, and they have it. They aren't going to sacrifice that depth now just because McKinney and Taylor have looked pretty good in their small samples.

 

Generally agree.

 

I'm hoping he can be good enough to deserve some of Vogelbach's at bats.

[Jopal78]

I wasn't expecting a Garcia trade right now, but depending on circumstances perhaps could see it at the deadline. Even if he isn't, he is a FA next year. Right now, Garcia is almost matching his last year output (more SLG, less OBP) and certainly not someone that "must" be in the line-up. A platoon in right wouldn't be out of the question either. Both of their career splits would support that, too.

 

If Garcia sucks so bad, why would anyone trade for him? Plus, at 10 million dollars (plus 2 million buyout of club option); the Brewers aren’t going to pay millions of dollars for Garcia to play for somebody else.

 

As someone else said, Cain, JBJ and Garcia aren’t going anywhere. If McKinney continues to impress, his playing time will likely come at the expense of Hiura and Vogelbach rather than the starting OFers

[SRB]

I like McKinney but all the guy has really done is hit 2 HR. I think it's early to say he has emerged as a viable starter or that we should consider trading one of the four OF above him in the depth charts.

[Hopper]

Cain, JBJ or Garcia aren't going anywhere. Once Yelich and Cain come back, McKinney will go back to his pinch hitting and occasional spot start role, and Taylor will go back to the alternate site. This was all part of the plan. They wanted better depth on the 2021 team, and they have it. They aren't going to sacrifice that depth now just because McKinney and Taylor have looked pretty good in their small samples.

 

Thanks David Stearns.

I didn't know we had Brewers brass posting on these boards.

[Hopper]

I like McKinney but all the guy has really done is hit 2 HR.

 

and played stellar defense.

He has had some clutch hits, not just 2 homers.

Yes, it's early, he could fade, but has looked great so far.

[Baldkin]

I like McKinney but all the guy has really done is hit 2 HR.

 

and played stellar defense.

He has had some clutch hits, not just 2 homers.

Yes, it's early, he could fade, but has looked great so far.

 

Maybe he's figured it out, I hope he has, as a reminder to how hard sustained success is in MLB...

 

Keon Broxton put up an .860 OPS while playing phenomenal defense over 400ish PA's from the end of 2016 to midway through 2017.

 

Then, poof, it was gone.

[Jopal78]

I like McKinney but all the guy has really done is hit 2 HR.

 

and played stellar defense.

He has had some clutch hits, not just 2 homers.

Yes, it's early, he could fade, but has looked great so far.

 

Maybe he's figured it out, I hope he has, as a reminder to how hard sustained success is in MLB...

 

Keon Broxton put up an .860 OPS while playing phenomenal defense over 400ish PA's from the end of 2016 to midway through 2017.

 

Then, poof, it was gone.

 

Then again, Broxton wasn’t a former first round pick and top 100 prospect. It’s early but there is such a thing as a player reaching their full potential. If he keeps it up, it will only make the team more formidable.

[CheezWizHed]

I wasn't expecting a Garcia trade right now, but depending on circumstances perhaps could see it at the deadline. Even if he isn't, he is a FA next year. Right now, Garcia is almost matching his last year output (more SLG, less OBP) and certainly not someone that "must" be in the line-up. A platoon in right wouldn't be out of the question either. Both of their career splits would support that, too.

 

If Garcia sucks so bad, why would anyone trade for him? Plus, at 10 million dollars (plus 2 million buyout of club option); the Brewers aren’t going to pay millions of dollars for Garcia to play for somebody else.

 

As someone else said, Cain, JBJ and Garcia aren’t going anywhere. If McKinney continues to impress, his playing time will likely come at the expense of Hiura and Vogelbach rather than the starting OFers

 

Trading him was one option. And obviously he would need to come up to his career norms than what he is doing right now.

 

Second option was a platoon:

- Garcia's career splits: 261/310/409/719 vs RHP and 295/358/456/813 vs LHP.

- Garcia's 2020 splits: 214/293/270/563 vs RHP and 291/418/455/872 vs LHP. 2021's numbers are similar to 2020, but just a smaller sample size.

- McKinney's career splits: 245/306/461/766 vs RHP and 190/229/367/596 vs LHP. He barely had any ABs last year and small sample this year too.

 

I would say the platoon - even a soft platoon with Garcia might be worth it when Yelich returns.

 

Putting him at 1B when we have Vogelbach doesn't make much sense unless we have a interleague game with the DH. Both are similarly bad against lefties.

[djoctagone]

billy mckinney has been designated for assignment.