After months of searching and enough free agent and trade interests to go around the league, the Boston Red Sox have finally found their infielder — the final piece to their lineup. He isn't the type of player Red Sox fans expected at the beginning of the offseason, but beggars can't be choosers.
Boston has signed infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive. While he's not the caliber of player Red Sox fans expected when their infield pursuits began with Alex Bregman, his name may be familiar to Sox fans — Kiner-Falefa has suited up for the New York Yankees (2022-23) and he's had two stints with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kiner-Falefa, 30, is an eight-year MLB veteran, who began his career with the Texas Rangers and also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season before he joined the Blue Jays on their World Series run. He nearly became the hero of the game when he tried to score from third base in the ninth inning of Game 7, but Miguel Rojas and Will Smith cut him down.
Kiner-Falefa fits the profile of player Boston pivoted to after its many infield losses. What started as a push for a great all-around player ended in prioritizing defense over all else. Kiner-Falefa won a Gold Glove Award with the Rangers in 2020, primarily as a third baseman. He clocked five outs above average for 95th percentile range.
Red Sox sign former Yankees, Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa to end their infield search, keep their focus on defense
The utility infielder had a slightly down defensive season with the Pirates and Jays last year. He appeared at shortstop, second and third base last season and logged an out below average. Kiner-Falefa will more than likely be Boston's second baseman, as sources have stated that it prefers to play Marcelo Mayer at third base and Trevor Story is still the shortstop.
Kiner-Falefa is an average hitter, with a .262/.297/.334 slash line over 138 games last season and a .262/.311/.349 line in his career. He has solid plate discipline, with a 91st percentile whiff rate and 77th percentile strikeout rate last season. Kiner-Falefa isn't known for his power, hitting just 36 homers over his eight years in the league, but he hit one of his four homers with the 2022 Yankees at Fenway Park. Hopefully, he channels that memory a few times this year.
After missing out on Bregman, Boston committed to run prevention. While Kiner-Falefa is the best defensive player the Red Sox have fielded at second base for years, he doesn't help address the streakiness of last year's offense or the power outage after the Rafael Devers trade.