Dodgers DFA Billy McKinney, Zach Reks as part of roster maneuvers

The Dodgers added five minor-leaguers to their 40-man roster before Friday’s deadline, protecting them from the Rule 5 draft which will be held next month.

Added for the first time in their careers were infielders Jacob Amaya, Jorbit Vivas and Eddys Leonard, outfielder James Outman and right-hander Michael Grove.

At the same time, outfielders Billy McKinney and Zach Reks were designated for assignment. The moves leave the Dodgers’ 40-man roster full.

McKinney, 27, was traded to the Dodgers last July, his third team of the season. In 37 games with the Dodgers, he was 12 for 82 (.146) with a home run. Reks, 28, made his big-league debut with the Dodgers this season and went 0 for 10 in six games.

Either could still return to the Dodgers.

Of the five players added to the roster, the 24-year-old Grove was a second-round pick out of West Virginia in the 2018 draft despite having undergone Tommy John surgery in his final year at the college. The 68th overall pick in that year’s draft, he was the Dodgers’ highest pick to sign that year (first-rounder J.T. Ginn returned to college). Grove has a 7.12 ERA over 42 games at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga (in 2019) and Double-A Tulsa last year.

Amaya, 23, was the Dodgers’ 11th-round draft pick out of South Hills High in West Covina in 2017. An infielder who has primarily played shortstop, Amaya has a .254 average and .738 OPS over four minor-league seasons but he hit just .216 in 113 games at Double-A Tulsa this year with 12 home runs. Amaya rebounded to go 16 for 50 with three doubles and three home runs in 18 games in the Arizona Fall League this year.

Outman, 24, was the Dodgers’ seventh-round draft pick out of Cal State Sacramento in 2018. Considered a plus-defender in the outfield, Outman’s offensive game has improved over parts of three minor-league seasons. He reached Double-A for the first time this past season and hit .289 with an .887 OPS and nine home runs in 39 games. He also played in the Arizona Fall League, going 19 for 65 (.292) with 11 extra-base hits (including three home runs) in 20 games for a .994 OPS and being named to the Fall Stars Game.

Vivas, 20, has a similar profile. He also played multiple positions (mostly third and second base) and split his first full season between Great Lakes and Rancho Cucamonga. He hit .312 with an .893 OPS and 14 home runs in 106 combined games.

Both Vivas and Leonard are playing winter ball in their home countries (Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, respectively).

The Rule 5 draft is scheduled for Dec. 9, the final day of the Winter Meetings. A potential lockout with the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement on Dec. 1 could result in a postponement of both the meetings and the draft.