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The New York Yankees didn’t exactly slam the table in response to a former player’s postseason jab—but they didn’t ignore it either.
Manager Aaron Boone addressed comments made this week by new Boston Red Sox infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who admitted that he and the Toronto Blue Jays were “a lot happier” to face the Yankees instead of Boston in last year’s American League Division Series.
Kiner-Falefa, who spent 2022-23 in the Bronx, revealed that Toronto preferred the Yankees matchup because they didn’t want to deal with Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet in a short series. Crochet had dominated the Jays during the regular season, posting a 1.23 ERA across three starts.
Boone’s response? Measured. Calm. Slightly amused.
“I guess he was right,” Boone told reporters at spring training in Tampa. “It’s a little surprising to hear IKF say that, but whatever. That’s fine.”
When asked if the remarks bothered him, Boone didn’t escalate.
“Not really, honestly. You’ve got to play who you play. Whatever.”
That may sound dismissive on the surface, but it carries a deeper subtext. Boone isn’t interested in turning February bulletin-board material into October regret. The Yankees know what happened last postseason. They eliminated Boston in a tight Wild Card series—then ran straight into a Toronto buzzsaw.
Boone Takes the High Road—But the Message Is Clear
The Blue Jays knocked out 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil early in Game 1 and battered All-Star lefty Max Fried in Game 2. The series ended in four games. It wasn’t exactly a nail-biter.
Still, Kiner-Falefa’s framing—that the Yankees were the “better matchup”—adds a layer of disrespect that won’t be forgotten inside the clubhouse.
IKF went 0-for-6 in the series with an error. He wasn’t exactly the difference-maker. But now he’ll see the Yankees plenty as a member of their biggest rival.
That context matters.
This isn’t just a former role player making a passing comment. It’s a former Yankee now wearing Red Sox colors, openly suggesting the Yankees lacked the intimidation factor of Boston.
And while Boone publicly shrugs, the competitive edge inside that room is real.
The Yankees’ Reputation Is on the Line
The Yankees have made the postseason in back-to-back years. They reached the ALCS in 2022. They returned to October in 2025. But fair or not, perception often becomes reality in baseball.
When opponents openly say they preferred facing you, that sticks.
Kiner-Falefa may have simply been honest. He may have been trying to ingratiate himself with Boston fans. Or maybe both. But his comments highlight something the Yankees are trying to change in 2026: narrative.
This roster believes it’s deeper. More experienced. Better built for October. Boone’s refusal to engage in a war of words suggests confidence, not indifference.
He knows that if the Yankees want to reestablish that “fear factor,” it won’t happen in February press conferences.
It will happen on the field.
And if the schedule lines up just right this fall, Boone and his club might get another crack at proving whether Toronto’s preference was smart—or shortsighted.
Either way, the Yankees heard it. They just aren’t saying much about it.
Alvin Garcia Born in Puerto Rico, Alvin Garcia is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on MLB. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, covering mostly baseball. More about Alvin Garcia
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