Mets deal for outfielder Billy McKinney in trade with Brewers
Billy McKinney #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a home run off Yoan Lopez #50 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 19, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. Credit: Getty Images/Norm Hall
The Mets acquired former Yankees outfielder Billy McKinney from the Brewers on Tuesday night for 17-year-old minor-league lefthander Pedro Quintana.
McKinney, 26, was designated for assignment by Milwaukee on Saturday. In 40 games this season, the lefthanded hitter batted .207 with three home runs and six RBIs. He played 20 games in the outfield and nine at first base.
McKinney broke in with the Yankees for two games in 2018 and has also played for Toronto.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Mets moved righthander Jordan Yamamoto to the 60-day injured list with a sore right shoulder.
Lindor continues struggle
Francisco Lindor #12 of the Mets strikes out during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on Monday, May 24, 2021. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Francisco Lindor heard the boos again from the Citi Field crowd on Monday night when he went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .189 in the Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Rockies.
On Tuesday, Luis Rojas said he and the Mets’ hitting coaches have spoken to their $341 million shortstop about what the manager called "a poor approach" at the plate that has led to Lindor’s struggles.
"You want to help, right?" Rojas said. "You want to say something to the player when you see repetitions of probably a poor approach or different things like that."
Rojas said Lindor is simply trying to pull the ball too much.
"I’m still seeing that he’s still trying to pull," Rojas said. "I think he’s been a pull hitter and that’s how he’s been successful, but I think he’s been forcing it a little bit . . . Sometimes you try to do a little bit too much. It happens. Every hitter goes through it and as confident as this guy is with his approach and what he can do . . . He was saying that he’s going to get out of this."
It wasn't Tuesday night, when he went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
The Mets fired hitting coaches Chili Davis and Tom Slater on May 3, a move that Lindor said he felt partly responsible for because of his slow start.
Rojas said new hitting coaches Hugh Quattlebaum and Kevin Howard "have had conversations with Francisco about his approach. And that’s when the concern level doesn’t get a bit high, because you see that his confidence is there and that he’s been through things like this in the past and that he’s working really hard to go past this."
Rookie outfielder Johneshwy Fargas said Lindor has maintained his cheery disposition despite his struggles at the plate.
"He’s always smiling, always happy, giving energy every day," Fargas said. "He will be all right. He will be all right. He will be all right. He’s a happy person."
Extra bases
Fargas appeared to be destined for the injured list as had his left arm in a sling as the Mets awaited results of an MRI on Tuesday and for some reason kept him on the active roster versus Colorado.
Fargas was initially diagnosed with an AC joint sprain on Monday after he crashed into the centerfield fence and immediately clutched his shoulder in pain.
"I’ve been crashing the wall a lot," Fargas said. "But this is the first time the wall beat me."
The news was better for Taijuan Walker, who is on the IL with left side tightness. Walker threw live batting practice and could return soon without needing a minor-league rehab start, Rojas said.
Utilityman Jake Hager, who picked up his first major-league hit Friday and was designated for assignment Saturday, was claimed on waivers by the Brewers.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
