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NY Post
New York Post
13 Aug 2023


NextImg:Yankees’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa may draw interest as free agent in offseason

MIAMI — Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been solid all over the dirt and playable in the outfield for the Yankees, but he might be best equipped to play third base.

Kiner-Falefa said he feels most comfortable anywhere around the infield, though he might have found his true major league calling as a player without a position.

The primary shortstop from the 2022 season, he has taken well to a utility role in which he has played every position except first base and catcher (which he occasionally played earlier in his career).

In a few months, Kiner-Falefa will head into free agency off a strong season in which he has flexed his flexibility.

He said he is “open to everything,” so a team that has a need at third base or shortstop or in an outfield spot could come calling, but he believes he will be best valued as a positional nomad.

What will matter more to him will be the club’s situation, rather than his defensive position.

“I’m happy wherever as long as I get an opportunity to play and just be on a winning team,” Kiner-Falefa said Saturday before the Yankees lost to the Marlins, 3-1, at loanDepot Park. “I think that’s the biggest thing, going through a [season with a Rangers] team that lost 100 games in 2021. I don’t really want to be a part of that. I want to be on a winning team.”

Isiah Kiner-Falefa hits an RBI single in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 3-1 loss to the Marlins.
AP

Kiner-Falefa’s teams did not have a winning season through his four years with the Rangers before he was traded to the Twins, then to the Yankees the next day in March 2022.

He has a subpar first season in The Bronx, with both the glove and bat, but came back this season as a do-everything option who seems more comfortable everywhere.

He might look the most comfortable at third base, starting four straight games there through Saturday with DJ LeMahieu nursing a calf injury.

Kiner-Falefa looked natural sprinting Friday on a soft grounder from Luis Arraez, fielding and throwing a dart off-balance for an out.

“I think he’s the best in the league [at third],” said the Yankees’ new shortstop, rookie Anthony Volpe.

“That’s what I did in Texas,” Kiner-Falefa, who won a Gold Glove at third base in the shortened 2020 season, said with a smile. “Feel like Yankees fans didn’t see that, but that’s what I do.”

What he has also done this season is hit.

The traditional contact hitter has swung harder this year and carries a .690 OPS (up from .642 last year), a bit above-average after a poor April.

He was the one Yankee to knock in a run against Sandy Alcantara on Saturday, swatting an RBI single into right field in the seventh inning.

If he can offer a roughly league-average bat and a glove capable of playing anywhere, he would have a number of teams interested.

It is possible the Yankees would be among them.

“I love it here,” Kiner-Falefa said, “and would want to stay for sure.”