Yanks, IKF agree to 1-year deal, avoid arbitration
After an up-and-down first season with the Yankees, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has avoided arbitration by agreeing with the team on a $6 million deal for next season, a source confirmed Friday.
There had been thought around the industry that the Yankees might non-tender Kiner-Falefa, but that would have been a surprise.
Kiner-Falefa’s role in 2023 remains undetermined, especially after the Yankees used three different starting shortstops in the first three games of the ALCS, hardly a recipe for success.
With Kiner-Falefa benched over defensive woes, the Yankees went to Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza against Houston. The middle of the infield continues to be a question mark early in the offseason.
Kiner-Falefa could still be traded, and the Yankees have also shopped Gleyber Torres since last season. Torres is expected to receive close to $10 million in arbitration and is coming off a solid season both at the plate and at second base.
Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman have both talked up the team’s young prospects and said there could be competition in the middle infield during spring training.
That figures to include Peraza (unless he’s included in a trade), Cabrera and Anthony Volpe, who finished last season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what these kids can do, competing for a spot in the spring,’’ Cashman said Thursday at the Covenant House Sleep Out, at which he helped raise awareness of and funds for homeless youth.
“It doesn’t mean they’re going to oust who’s in those spots either,” Cashman said. “And when they’re ready, you make room for them one way or another.”
Kiner-Falefa would be a highpriced backup infielder and Cabrera showed he could play around the infield, as well as the corner outfield spots.
Volpe figures to need more seasoning at Triple-A, while Peraza impressed in his short stint in the majors last season, playing short and second.
“Clearly, the infield is an area of strength for us — more so than probably any other aspect,” Cashman said. “[We have] some really high-end young kids pushing their way up, saying they want it to be their turn now.
“We certainly like the infield we finished with and we like the young guys that are coming up.”
“And we’ll look forward to spring training to sorting it all out,’’ he added. “Unless I sort it out before that.’’
➤ The Yankees also came to terms with right-hander Lou Trivino, who pitched well out of the bullpen after he was acquired in the trade that also brought Frankie Montas from Oakland.
They also claimed 25-year-old right-hander Junior Fernandez off waivers from the Pirates. The hard-throwing Fernandez appeared in 16 games last season, split between the Pirates and Cardinals.
Featuring a sinker-slider arsenal the Yankees have found success with among other relievers, Fernandez could be a part of a bullpen that will be without Scott Effross and is looking for reinforcements.