Toronto Blue Jays lose yet another player to the Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers plucked yet another player from the Toronto Blue Jays designated for assignment heap claiming outfielder Billy McKinney.

The Blue Jays bid adieu to another player at the hands of the Brewers yesterday when Billy McKinney was claimed by Milwaukee. The Brew Crew had previously claimed Daniel Vogelbach on September 03rd after the first baseman had made just five plate appearances for the Jays.

McKinney found himself caught in a numbers game and unfortunately was out of options so the team had to expose him to the waiver wire in order to free up a roster spot. The Brewers snatched up the 26-year old former first-round selection and assigned him to their alternate training site.

The Blue Jays acquired McKinney along with Brandon Drury from the Yankees in return for veteran pitcher J.A Happ at the 2018 trade deadline. Neither Drury nor McKinney blossomed into the players the brain trust had hoped following the deal.

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McKinney suited up for 122 games over parts of three seasons for Toronto hitting .230/.291/.439 with 85 hits including 18 home runs and a 0.4 WAR in 407 plate appearances. The outfielder had only played two games this season notching two hits in the three at-bats.

Vogelbach seems to be enjoying his time in Milwaukee as the slugger is hitting .368/.444/.421 with seven hits in 22 plate appearances since being claimed by the Brewers. The team optioned former Blue Jay’ Justin Smoak to clear a roster spot for Vogelbach, however, Smoak has since joined the San Francisco Giants.

With McKinney and Anthony Alford out of the picture, the Blue Jays outfield will be comprised mainly of Cavan Biggio, Randal Grichuk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Teoscar Hernandez, and Jonathan Davis. Hernandez is currently sidelined with an oblique injury although he did take batting practice earlier this week.

The Brewers will presumably just sit back and wait to complete the waiver wire trifecta the next time Toronto attempts to sneak someone through. Third time is a charm.