Ex-Yankees player signs with the Blue Jays

This offseason, the New York Yankees’ roster is being rebuilt.

It would have been intolerable to not retool after a poor season in which they finished two games above.500 and fourth in the AL East. The Yankees made a big move when they signed Juan Soto, and they’re still seeking for more in free agency. When new players are added to the roster, others on the roster must usually find new homes. That is the case for former New York utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who became a free agent after the 2023 season.

According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, the 28-year-old infielder/outfielder has agreed to terms with the Yankees’ division opponent, the Toronto Blue Jays, on a two-year, $15 million contract. Kiner-Falefa was acquired in a 2022 trade with the Minnesota Twins that also included third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Ben Rortvedt for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela. The versatile defender played for the Yankees for two seasons, slashing.253/.311/.333 with 10 home runs and 85 RBI. He also appeared in 255 of 324 games, making him a fixture in the lineup.

Unfortunately, his bat never produced consistently enough to generate long-term worth. Kiner-Falefa’s OPS+ of 81 is 19 points lower than the average MLB hitter. After replacing rookie Anthony Volpe as New York’s primary shortstop in 2022, he was demoted to utility in 2023. The former Yankee will now continue his professional career with the Blue Jays, remaining in the AL East division.