Yankees Notes: Kiner-Falefa, Judge, Center Field

As children Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe make sturdy instances to take over the Yankees’ beginning shortstop function, there’s been loads of hypothesis over the way forward for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. That hypothesis has solely intensified because the Yankees have introduced a sequence of accidents that’ll have an effect on their roster over the opening few weeks of the season and past.

Kiner-Falefa is owed $6MM this yr, and does seem like lagging behind within the race to win the shortstop job. The Yankees have been giving him time at second and third base, and plan to work him out within the outfield this spring, which suggests they could view him as extra of a utility participant at this level. But the staff already has the extremely spectacular Oswaldo Cabrera able to bouncing around the diamond as a utility choice, and he’ll solely earn the league minimal in 2023.

Now, with the Yankees coping with rotation, bullpen and outfield accidents to Carlos Rodon, Frankie Montas, Lou Trivino, Tommy Kahnle and Harrison Bader, it might make some sense for the staff to deal from their infield depth to deal with different areas. According to Brendan Kuty and Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Yankees have had conversations with the Dodgers and Rockies over Kiner-Falefa. It’s not recognized the precise timeline or extent of these conversations, however it’s value noting the Dodgers checked in on Kiner-Falefa early within the low season previous to buying Miguel Rojas from the Marlins.

Normal supervisor Brian Cashman addressed the commerce market to reporters, and whereas he didn’t particularly title Kiner-Falefa (or some other infielders), he definitely didn’t shut the door on a deal involving their infielders earlier than the beginning of the common season.

“I might say sometimes commerce conversations normally are a bit extra severe within the second a part of camp than the primary half. I do know that’s an space of power for this franchise proper now in actual time. So if someone is on the lookout for assist, we wouldn’t be stunned in the event that they’re knocking on our door,” Cashman stated.

A commerce might assist them deal with their thinning rotation and bullpen inventory, however even with Bader on the shelf for some time, it doesn’t seem the outfield is a urgent want. As Kuty notes in a separate piece, Bader’s damage possible means a short lived return to heart discipline for Aaron Judge. That might permit the Yankees to offer Giancarlo Stanton extra at bats in proper discipline, with Cabrera and Aaron Hicks more likely to deal with left. Rafael Ortega and Estevan Florial are different candidates to fill in with Bader out, however it seems Hicks – a profession heart fielder who moved to left final yr – will not be amongst them, with Kuty noting it appears the Yankees want to maintain him in left.

Talking of Decide, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic sheds some extra gentle on the excessive profile free company of the brand new Yankees captain. Whereas it’s been broadly reported that the Yankees’ determination to tack on a ninth-year and take the full worth of the contract to $360MM sealed the deal, there’s been somewhat little bit of uncertainty over the extent of the Padres late curiosity within the slugger. In response to Rosenthal, the Padres put ahead a deal within the vary of $415MM over at the very least 12 years.