On July 21, 2021, the Dodgers traded minor league outfielder Carlos Rincon to the New York Mets for outfielder Billy McKinney. It wasn’t a headline-grabbing trade. Rincon was no longer considered a top prospect by the Dodgers, and McKinney was a Mendoza-line hitter who had been DFA by the Mets five days earlier; his third DFA in 22 months (Toronto and Milwaukee).

Although the left-handed-hitting McKinney was the first-round draft selection of the Oakland Athletics (24th overall) in 2013, this wasn’t a trade for a player who would become the next heist by Dodgers President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman. This was an acquisition born of necessity. The Dodgers have been plagued by injuries throughout the season, including outfielders Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Zach McKinstry, Sheldon Neuse, AJ Pollock, Luke Raley, and Edwin Rios, all spending time on the MLB IL. Matt Beaty had reasonable offensive success for the team but with below-average defense. And outfielders DJ Peters, Raley, Zach Reks, Steven Souza Jr., and Yoshi Tsutsugo failed their respective ‘tryouts’ for roster spots. (Peters is now one of the Texas Rangers’ best power hitters, having hit nine home runs through his first 31 games with them).

While McKinney provides average outfield defense, in more than 700 Major League plate appearances, he has slashed a meager .216/.288/.407/.295. As a Dodger, he has hit an anemic .154/.287/.244/.531, which is more deserving of a trip to the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City than occupying a valuable spot on the Dodgers active roster.

Matt Beaty has slashed .262/.358/.374/.732 for the Dodgers this season and .400/.483/.520/1.003 after being optioned to OKC. He remains a below-average defensive player, but that may not be as concerning to the team, with Chris Taylor, Bellinger, and Betts healthy. Beaty’s primary role for the remainder of the season will undoubtedly be as a pinch-hitter – a clear upgrade over the offensively challenged McKinney.

Unfortunately, the 27-year-old McKinney is out of minor league options. In order to move him to OKC, the team would be required to DFA him and hope that he passes through waivers. That may be a gamble that Friedman is unwilling to take, considering the plethora of Dodgers injuries this season. An alternative would be a 10-day trip to the IL for McKinney.

Whether it is Beaty, or Raley, or Sousa Jr., look for the Dodgers to add more offense to the bench for the last three weeks of the season.

The game of Major League Baseball is a wonderfully constructed game played with exceptional athletes. But the business of Major League Baseball is often execrable.

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