Isiah Kiner-Falefa signs $15 million Blue Jays contract after polarizing Yankees tenure
Isiah Kiner-Falefa will remain in the AL East.
The former Yankees utilityman agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed. The pact is pending a physical.
Kiner-Falefa endured a rocky, up-and-down two years with the Yankees, with whom he became a polarizing figure as the everyday shortstop in 2022.
Kiner-Falefa struggled in the field and did not hit enough (.642 OPS) that season to compensate for his defensive struggles.
He eventually was benched in the postseason.
Recast as a super utilityman in 2023, Kiner-Falefa seemed far more comfortable as Anthony Volpe took over as the regular shortstop.
IKF played every position last season except catcher and first base and emerged as a valuable, do-everything defender who could hold his own in center field, which the Yankees needed.
In an otherwise dreary Yankees season, Kiner-Falefa hit more than most and made himself appealing to plenty of teams that could use defensive flexibility.
The Yankees, who already have Oswaldo Cabrera, did not appear to be a natural fit.
With the Blue Jays, Kiner-Falefa could take over the utility spot vacated by free agent Whit Merrifield.