McKinney was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates in exchange for international bonus pool money Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McKinney spent the 2023 season in the Yankees organization and agreed to a minor-league deal to return to the club earlier in the offseason. He should provide depth in the Pirates outfield but is unlikely to draw regular playing time barring injury.

McKinney signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Friday, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

McKinney split the 2023 season between the Yankees and their Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, posting a .726 OPS with six homers over 48 games during his time with the big club. The 29-year-old will provide the Bronx Bombers with some veteran outfield depth.

McKinney (back) elected to become a free agent Monday.

EDGE Analysis

He'll test out free agency rather than accept the Yankees' outright assignment. McKinney missed the last several weeks of the season with a back injury and it's not clear what his current health situation is.

The Yankees outrighted McKinney (back) to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Back spasms have kept McKinney out of action since late August, and he'll now lose his spot on the Yankees' 40-man roster. The 29-year-old outfielder has the option to become a free agent and should be able to secure at least a minor-league deal after posting a .726 OPS with New York.

The Yankees placed McKinney on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left lower-back spasm.

EDGE Analysis

This back stiffness first popped up late last week and McKinney may have aggravated when he returned to action in Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox. The 28-year-old outfielder was slashing just .184/.304/.263 in 46 plate appearances since the calendar flipped to August.

McKinney (back) will start in left field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

A stiff back kept McKinney on the bench for Saturday's 8-1 loss, but he'll draw back into the lineup Sunday to make his third start in four games. McKinney is without a clear path to an everyday spot in the Yankees outfield, but he should play at least semi-regularly against right-handed pitching while manager Aaron Boone occasionally hands rest days to the likes of Giancarlo Stanton, Jake Bauers and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

McKinney's absence from the lineup Saturday against the Red Sox is due to a stiff back, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McKinney's back stiffness may be part of the reason he's hit just .184/.304/.263 over his last 15 games. Greg Allen starts in left field in his absence.

McKinney went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

McKinney extended the Yankees' lead to 3-0 with a blast in the first inning off Cristian Javier, his sixth long ball of the year. McKinney's seen his playing time take a hit following the return of Aaron Judge -- Thursday's start was just McKinney's second in New York's last six games. Overall, the 28-year-old McKinney is slashing .237/.315/.474 with 14 runs scored, 12 RBI and a stolen base through 108 plate appearances this season.

McKinney is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

The lefty-hitting McKinney finds himself on the bench against a right-handed starting pitcher (Tyler Glasnow) for the third game in a row, a clear sign that he's no longer viewed as a strong-side platoon player in the wake of Aaron Judge's return from the injured list. At least for the time being, the lefty-hitting Jake Bauers appears to be the top option at the corner-outfield spot opposite Judge. Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Greg Allen will likely replace Bauers in the corner outfield when the Yankees face left-handed pitching.

McKinney is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

The Yankees will roll out a right-handed-hitting outfield of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Harrison Bader and Giancarlo Stanton against Mets southpaw Jose Quintana, leaving no room in the lineup for the lefty-hitting McKinney. He had started in center field or left field in each of the last four games, going 3-for-8 with a home run, five walks, four runs, three RBI and a stolen base.