{"id":73155,"date":"2024-05-14T07:00:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T11:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=73155"},"modified":"2024-05-14T00:26:18","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T04:26:18","slug":"two-former-yankees-contributing-new-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/05\/14\/two-former-yankees-contributing-new-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Former Yankees Contributing for Their New Clubs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two former New York Yankees players were brought onto their respective new clubs for a purpose, and so far they are fulfilling it. Former Yankees catcher Gary S\u00e1nchez<\/a> and former Yankees infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa<\/a> are contributing in key roles for the teams they represent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Isaiah Kiner-Falefa is a very recent familiarity in the Bronx, one whom Yankees fans were more than willing to part ways with. Kiner-Falefa, or \u201cIKF\u201d spent two seasons in New York and didn\u2019t amount to much hype or contribution.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Former Yankees Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa Contributing to Blue Jays<\/h2>\n

In 2023, Kiner-Falefa defined the word \u201cutility,\u201d splitting time between seven defensive spots on the field, with the majority spent in the outfield. He was also tasked with some third base time. Defensively his output was not terrible, but his offense was disheartening.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The former Yankees utilityman finished the 2023 season with a .242 batting average. Usually, batting average doesn\u2019t say much about other qualities at the dish, but in this case, it speaks volumes. He struck out 70 times and walked 28 times. His stick was useless and technically was a back-filler by title.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fast-forward to 2024, Kiner-Falefa remained employed, but with another team in that division. The Toronto Blue Jays faced multiple hiccups in the offseason with regards to free agency, and practically failing to fix their main issue, offense.<\/span><\/p>\n

IKF is Doing Exactly the Job the Blue Jays Hired Him For<\/h3>\n

The Blue Jays management\u2019s approach was not just to wait for the big bats to heat up, but to add pieces who can collectively pull the offseason weight and flash the leather where needed. Kiner-Falefa signed with the Blue Jays<\/a> and ultimately assumed the role of former Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Outs Above Average
\nIKF: +2
\nChapman: -3 pic.twitter.com\/PIuwpPQCUG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Black (@DownToBlack) May 10, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n