The Texas Rangers, once a beacon of hope in the AL West, have plummeted into a season of despair, and the finger-pointing begins with Joc Pederson’s catastrophic $37 million, two-year contract. Pederson’s erratic performance has been the spark for a broader offensive implosion, leaving the Rangers languishing at 25th in MLB for runs scored and a dismal 27th in team OPS. This offensive drought has forced the team to gamble on fringe players, including outfielder Billy McKinney, whose brief stint with the big club ended in yet another outright to Triple-A after just two games.
McKinney, a 30-year-old Dallas native, was signed to a minor-league deal on May 27 and assigned to Triple-A Round Rock. The former Yankee, who saw extended action in New York’s own disappointing 2023 campaign due to Aaron Judge’s injury, showed promise in the minors. In 57 games with Round Rock, McKinney smashed six home runs, flashing the power that once made him a coveted prospect. His strong minor-league track record, including an .866 OPS and a .299/.406/.460 slash line in 43 games for Triple-A Indianapolis in 2024, earned him a call-up on July 1 when Evan Carter was placed on the bereavement list.
But the bright lights of the majors proved too harsh for McKinney. In his two-game cameo with Texas, he managed just a 1-for-7 performance, scoring a single run. The Rangers, desperate for a spark, wasted no time sending him back to Round Rock. McKinney’s 2024 MLB season has been a revolving door of brief opportunities, with only 10 games played across stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates and now Texas. Despite his consistent minor-league production, the big leagues remain an elusive puzzle for the outfielder.
The Rangers’ decision to outright McKinney leaves him at a crossroads. He can either continue grinding in Triple-A, hoping for another shot, or opt for free agency to seek a fresh start elsewhere. For Texas, however, the McKinney experiment is just a symptom of a larger malaise. Pederson’s failure to live up to his hefty contract has triggered a domino effect, exposing the team’s offensive frailties and forcing them to cycle through players who can’t seem to stick. As the season spirals, the Rangers must confront the harsh reality: their playoff dreams are fading fast, and the “Pederson disaster” may be the tipping point of a long, painful collapse.