The last time the New York Yankees employed Isiah Kiner-Falefa, undue pressure was placed upon him as the team’s starting shortstop – especially after Brian Cashman passed on several higher-ceiling options to install him as a stopgap instead.
This time around? All the Yankees need is a rock-steady third baseman who puts the ball in play, gets on base, and fields the position. Thankfully, the Pittsburgh Pirates should be open for business, and should have no qualms about selling Kiner-Falefa in his walk year.
Combine the Yankees’ needs with the respect IKF engendered during his time in pinstripes and the Pirates pushing Nick Gonzales over to shortstop during his rehab assignment, squeezing Kiner-Falefa even further, and this trade deadline reunion is starting to sound some pretty loud alarms.
Yankees’ trade deadline reunion with Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the Pirates seems extremely obvious
Let’s call it like it is: Yankee fans treated Kiner-Falefa unfairly last time around because he represented what they opted not to chase. He was a Gold Glove third baseman with an iffy bat crammed into shortstop and called a starter to cover for their shortcomings. Occasionally, the vitriol got far too nasty, which it never should.
Since leaving the Bronx, the 30-year-old Kiner-Falefa has leveled up with the bat somewhat, posting a 114 OPS+ with Toronto in the first half last year before flatlining after being traded to Pittsburgh (64 in 50 games). He’s hitting .303 with a 106 OPS+ to start this go-round, and presuming he doesn’t tail off significantly in the second half once again, he’d represent a stark improvement on anything the Yankees have trotted out thus far this season.
What’ll it cost? Likely not even a top-30 prospect, and the Pirates would be interested in some variety of offensive firepower from the Yankees’ system, given that they’re fairly set on pitching prospects at the moment.
Add in Kiner-Falefa’s recent praise for Aaron Judge’s leadership in Bob Nightengale’s latest deep dive on the player and the person – “He’s an amazing human being. I think the coolest thing about him is that any time you’re around him, he makes you feel like you’re on his level, like you’re the same type of player.” – and it’s hard to deny the wheels are in motion for a reunion here.
