*Photo from Pinstripe Alley*
Another player is switching sides in the AL East. INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a two year, $15 million contract, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. The team has confirmed the signing.
Kiner-Falefa was already experienced at second and 3rd base to go with shortstop and added playing the outfield to his repertoire last season, playing 78 games across all 3 outfield positions. It's this kind of versatility that adds a little bit of depth everywhere, and he also gets an extra $1 million in bonuses that are available over the two years.
Last season was Kiner-Falefa's second season with the New York Yankees after two trades before the 2022 season. He posted a .242/.306/.340 slash line with a well below average 78 OPS+, hitting 6 home runs and 12 doubles with 37 RBI's in 113 games for the Yankees, who missed the playoffs.
With the Blue Jays looking to fill a 4th outfielder role, there's a chance Kiner-Falefa could play into that equation alongside Nathan Lukes and Cavan Biggio, with Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider also having a little bit of outfield playing time in their careers.
The more likely role is that he ends up somewhere in the infield. Last year's starting second baseman Whit Merrifield and 3rd baseman Matt Chapman are both free agents, with 4 top 20 Blue Jays prospects to go with Schneider, Clement, Biggio, Santiago Espinal, and Kiner-Falefa as part of the infield mix.
Kiner-Falefa has played 6 years in the majors, 4 with the Texas Rangers and the last two with the Yankees. He has a .261/.314/.346 slash line with an 81 OPS+ to his name, adding 203 RBI's, 91 doubles, and 26 home runs in 647 games. Across 6 games and 20 plate appearances in the playoffs, Kiner-Falefa has 5 hits and one walk.
With a lot of the infield depth uncertain, Kiner-Falefa could find himself starting at either second or 3rd base, or he could find himself playing all over the field whenever an everyday player needs a day off, much like Merrifield last year, while still maintaining a lot of playing time in the process.
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