Yankees trade rumors: Isiah Kiner-Falefa reunion an option

The New York Yankees are one of the interested teams monitoring the availability of Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, potentially setting up a trade-deadline reunion between the two parties.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale was first to report the Yankees, along with the San Francisco Giants, are “keeping a close eye” on the 30-year-old, who spent two seasons in the Bronx from 2022-2023.

Interest in Kiner-Falefa indicates the Bronx Bombers’ desire to bolster their infield depth, which took a hit when Oswaldo Cabrera went down with a season-ending fractured ankle suffered last month.

He provides more experience and more production than Oswald Peraza, who is batting .158 in 114 at-bats this season. Kiner-Falefa is slashing .275/.319/.342 (.662 OPS) with one home run and 17 RBI in 66 games.

A reunion would also allow New York to bring in a bona fide No. 2 option behind the struggling Anthony Volpe, who is batting just .236 with a .735 OPS, nine home runs, and 41 RBI. The 24-year-old’s defense has also regressed significantly. After his outs above average (OAA) was in the 97th percentile last season, it is in the 46th percentile this year.

Kiner-Falefa is in the final year of his two-year, $15 million deal that he initially signed with the Toronto Blue Jays before being dealt at last year’s trade deadline to the Pirates.

While he is only due a little over $4 million for the rest of the season, the Yankees would have to pay 110% on every additional dollar they spend after exceeding the fourth level of MLB’s competitive balance tax threshold.