Division Rival to sign former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Boston Red Sox are set to add infield depth by signing former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year contract.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports that Boston is finalizing a deal with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, an ALIGND Sports Agency client.
Source: Red Sox are closing in on a deal with Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
The agreement is expected to be for one season, and the Red Sox have an open spot on their 40-man roster, meaning no corresponding move will be necessary.
Deal is not yet done but the sides have progressed, per sources. It’s expected to be a one-year MLB deal but there are details to work out.
Kiner-Falefa best infield option available after top tier free agents sign elsewhere
Yesterday we listed five suitors for Kiner-Falefa, and the Red Sox were at the top of the list.
The move appears to address the Red Sox’s need at second base following the departure of Alex Bregman in free agency.
While the club explored higher-profile options via trade and free agency—such as Ketel Marte, Brendan Donovan, Isaac Paredes, and Bo Bichette—they ultimately came up empty.
Boston is reportedly committed to keeping top prospect Marcelo Mayer at third base and was instead focused on finding a reliable, defense-first option to slot in at the keystone. Kiner-Falefa fits that profile well.
A former Gold Glove winner, Kiner-Falefa earned the honor at third base with the Texas Rangers in 2020.
The 30-year-old Hawaii native split the 2024 season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Toronto Blue Jays, joining the team after being claimed off waivers in late August.
He appeared in 19 regular-season games down the stretch for the Jays, batting .233 with one home run and five RBIs. Kiner-Falefa also saw action in 15 postseason games, tallying six hits and two doubles in 37 at-bats.
The stint marked his second tour with Toronto after signing a one-year deal prior to the 2024 campaign.
He was later dealt to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. Across eight major-league seasons with the Rangers, New York Yankees, Blue Jays, and Pirates, Kiner-Falefa owns a career .262 batting average and a reputation for defensive versatility.
While he has logged most of his innings on the left side of the infield, he has also posted strong defensive metrics at second base, including +12 Defensive Runs Saved and +2 Outs Above Average in nearly 600 career innings at the position.
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