[Heyman] Isiah Kiner-Falefa has interest from about 12 teams, including the Yankees. Teams considering IKF for super utility, shortstop or third base.
December 5, 2023
[Heyman] Isiah Kiner-Falefa has interest from about 12 teams, including the Yankees. Teams considering IKF for super utility, shortstop or third base.
13 comments
Jerry Dipoto salivating
what teams can’t find a 3B better than IKF
he’s a fine role player, but *starting third baseman*?
Wow, Heyman couldn’t even bother to mention his 2.25 ERA. This man is budget Ohtani, people!
This is THE premier two-way player to sign this offseason
I love IKF the person and his grittiness. You can tell he loves baseball and he’ll always give you 100% every day. That being said his offense is pretty meh. He’s a great fit on a team with a deep lineup where he would be a solid bottom of the order bat that doesn’t strike out, and is pretty good with RISP. He just more often than not swings a pool noodle.
IKF did a fine job this season; 2022 was purely exposing every weakness he had since Cash and Boone thought he could be a starting SS. Had to deal with our crowd on his ass constantly and it was a bad situation management did nothing to help. But he proved himself again in 2023 and IMO had a great year.
He’s a great super-utility player and even a decent pitcher! Plus gritty as hell. Any team is lucky to have him in that bench role.
So, a bit of a rant from my perspective as a sabermetrically-oriented Mets fan who watched a player get unfairly maligned:
IKF was exactly as advertised for NYY — a bridge to Anthony Volpe who provided solid production. It’s not his fault that he was in the Donaldson trade and he handled himself as a Yankee with the punctilio of honor.
I cannot understand why IKF emerged as such a scapegoat for a particular subset of otherwise sabermetrically-oriented Yankee fans. I get that he could be frustrating to watch, that his defense at short was the subject of some serious agita regarding the metrics, and that his offense is punch and judy. Obviously, his nerves got to him in October of 2022 and he was benched during the playoffs.
However, the scapegoating went far beyond any of that and was completely out of proportion to a player who is otherwise a pretty obvious, unexciting, run of the mill, defense-heavy 2ish-3ish WAR “true talent”. He overperformed in 2022 when you adjust for context (his RE24 is significantly better than his RBat). DRS and DRP are pretty closely aligned regarding his defense and even his -2 FRV was “only” 39th percentile. None of that mattered to the folks I’m referring to.
I’m glad the dude has a strong market and I hope he goes somewhere lower pressure where he can toss up his 85ish OPS+, play plus defense, and be appreciated for who and what he is.
Don’t let them find out the Flyin Hawaiian can also catch👀
I think IKF is a better and more valuable player than people realize. He can play good defense anywhere on the field, and while he’s not a good hitter, he’s not totally hopeless at the plate. He puts the ball in play often enough that he can get lucky and pitch in some unexpected production from the bottom of the order.
His problem in New York was that he was the everyday SS for the biggest market team in the nation. He’s not good enough to be an everyday SS, but as a bench player who can produce at literally any position he’s quite useful.
Jerry about to add him to his utility player collection
holy giant
Heyman strikes again. “Half the league is interested, including this one team.”
13 comments
Jerry Dipoto salivating
what teams can’t find a 3B better than IKF
he’s a fine role player, but *starting third baseman*?
Wow, Heyman couldn’t even bother to mention his 2.25 ERA. This man is budget Ohtani, people!
This is THE premier two-way player to sign this offseason
I love IKF the person and his grittiness. You can tell he loves baseball and he’ll always give you 100% every day. That being said his offense is pretty meh. He’s a great fit on a team with a deep lineup where he would be a solid bottom of the order bat that doesn’t strike out, and is pretty good with RISP. He just more often than not swings a pool noodle.
IKF did a fine job this season; 2022 was purely exposing every weakness he had since Cash and Boone thought he could be a starting SS. Had to deal with our crowd on his ass constantly and it was a bad situation management did nothing to help. But he proved himself again in 2023 and IMO had a great year.
He’s a great super-utility player and even a decent pitcher! Plus gritty as hell. Any team is lucky to have him in that bench role.
So, a bit of a rant from my perspective as a sabermetrically-oriented Mets fan who watched a player get unfairly maligned:
IKF was exactly as advertised for NYY — a bridge to Anthony Volpe who provided solid production. It’s not his fault that he was in the Donaldson trade and he handled himself as a Yankee with the punctilio of honor.
I cannot understand why IKF emerged as such a scapegoat for a particular subset of otherwise sabermetrically-oriented Yankee fans. I get that he could be frustrating to watch, that his defense at short was the subject of some serious agita regarding the metrics, and that his offense is punch and judy. Obviously, his nerves got to him in October of 2022 and he was benched during the playoffs.
However, the scapegoating went far beyond any of that and was completely out of proportion to a player who is otherwise a pretty obvious, unexciting, run of the mill, defense-heavy 2ish-3ish WAR “true talent”. He overperformed in 2022 when you adjust for context (his RE24 is significantly better than his RBat). DRS and DRP are pretty closely aligned regarding his defense and even his -2 FRV was “only” 39th percentile. None of that mattered to the folks I’m referring to.
I’m glad the dude has a strong market and I hope he goes somewhere lower pressure where he can toss up his 85ish OPS+, play plus defense, and be appreciated for who and what he is.
Don’t let them find out the Flyin Hawaiian can also catch👀
I think IKF is a better and more valuable player than people realize. He can play good defense anywhere on the field, and while he’s not a good hitter, he’s not totally hopeless at the plate. He puts the ball in play often enough that he can get lucky and pitch in some unexpected production from the bottom of the order.
His problem in New York was that he was the everyday SS for the biggest market team in the nation. He’s not good enough to be an everyday SS, but as a bench player who can produce at literally any position he’s quite useful.
Jerry about to add him to his utility player collection
holy giant
Heyman strikes again. “Half the league is interested, including this one team.”
Never forget [when he stole home](https://youtu.be/sN9bjjDX-zI?si=2gcMt5Qm19YOOmpO)