As youngsters Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe make strong cases to take over the Yankees’ starting shortstop role, there’s been plenty of speculation over the future of Isiah Kiner-Falefa. That speculation has only intensified as the Yankees have announced a series of injuries that’ll affect their roster over the opening few weeks of the season and beyond.
Kiner-Falefa is owed $6MM this year, and does appear to be lagging behind in 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 in the outfield this spring, which suggests they may view him as more of a utility player at this point. Yet the team already has the highly impressive Oswaldo Cabrera capable of bouncing round the diamond as a utility option, and he’ll only earn the league minimum in 2023.
Now, with the Yankees dealing with rotation, bullpen and outfield injuries to Carlos Rodon, Frankie Montas, Lou Trivino, Tommy Kahnle and Harrison Bader, it would make some sense for the team to deal from their infield depth to address other 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 known the exact timeline or extent of those conversations, but it’s worth noting the Dodgers checked in on Kiner-Falefa early in the off-season prior to acquiring Miguel Rojas from the Marlins.
General manager Brian Cashman addressed the trade market to reporters, and while he didn’t specifically name Kiner-Falefa (or any other infielders), he certainly didn’t close the door on a deal involving their infielders before the start of the regular season.
“I would say typically trade conversations usually are a bit more serious in the second part of camp than the first part. I do know that’s an area of strength for this franchise right now in real time. So if somebody is looking for help, we wouldn’t be surprised if they’re knocking on our door,” Cashman said.
A trade could help them address their thinning rotation and bullpen stock, but even with Bader on the shelf for a while, it doesn’t appear the outfield is a pressing need. As Kuty notes in a separate piece, Bader’s injury likely means a temporary return to center field for Aaron Judge. That would allow the Yankees to give Giancarlo Stanton more at bats in right field, with Cabrera and Aaron Hicks likely to handle left. Rafael Ortega and Estevan Florial are other candidates to fill in with Bader out, but it appears Hicks – a career center fielder who moved to left last year – is not among them, with Kuty noting it seems the Yankees prefer to keep him in left.
Speaking of Judge, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic sheds some more light on the high profile free agency of the new Yankees captain. While it’s been widely reported that the Yankees’ decision to tack on a ninth-year and take the total value of the contract to $360MM sealed the deal, there’s been a little bit of uncertainty over the extent of the Padres late interest in the slugger. According to Rosenthal, the Padres put forward a deal in the range of $415MM over at least 12 years.
I don’t see why whatever the Padres did or didn’t offer Judge matters now.
Yeah, I can see why Judge would choose $40m over $35m a year. With inflation there’s no way he’d be able to make ends meet on what the Padres offered him.
Looool
It’s not always easy to make the minimum eight paragraphs when reporting minor news.
Blue Baron, it provides insight to the SD front office’s and ownership’s willingness to spend which could come into play going forward.
It does nothing of the kind unless you have accurate, verifiable information, which we as fans generally don’t. We only know what teams and agents are willing to disclose.
This is MLB Trade Rumors, not MLB Accurate, Verifiable Information.
But unverified rumors are just speculation. They don’t provide insight into anyone’s front office.
MLB Trade Speculations…sorry, just not as catchy.
MLB Trade Musings 😛
MLB Fans Bullsh*tting
MLB Rumor-Mongering
Xavier or Judge. Padres picked their man. Both players are signed into their 40s. Let’s see how their contracts age 5 years from now.
Xander won’t age well. Judge has skills that age well, old man skills – power, plate discipline, walks. Xander’s avg exit velocity too a big dip in 2022. He hit better in Fenway than he did on the road.
“Xander won’t age well. Judge has skills that age well,”
When doing the math on that, did injury history not get factored in? I dont think either will “age well”, but, if forced to choose, Id put my money on the guy thats been relatively healthy over the guy that has had frequent back problems.
What history of back injuries does Aaron Judge have? Judge has never been on the IL at any point over his career for a back injury. People just get on this website and lie for the sake of a false narrative I guess.
“Judge has never been on the IL at any point over his career for a back injury.”
——–
Injuries:
DATE INJURY
7/7/22 Lower Body
7/16/21 COVID-19
6/13/21 Back
4/7/21 Side
8/26/20 Calf
8/12/20 Lower Body
9/19/19 Shoulder
4/20/19 Oblique
7/27/18 Chip fracture, right wrist
7/26/18 Chip fracture, right wrist
Back, Side, Shoulder Oblique.
Whats that on 6/13/21, a back injury? I guess your “never” makes you a liar “for the sake of a false narrative”. What are you 12?
I wouldn’t say he has back issues based on this quote: “2021 was his healthiest season in terms of soft tissue injuries, as he missed only three days total with an unspecified lower body injury and back spasms. “
Mad Hatter, I would honestly say I overstated his back problems, maybe Im confusing/combining Stantons problems with Judge’s, or maybe I happened to remember Judges had oblique, side and back problems better than others.
The issue I have is I “lied for the sake of a false narrative” which is a dbag thing to say, especially when that poster say he “never” had a back injury. The ‘false narrative’ thing is just this posters imagination running away with him (Yankee persecution complex).
rsmith: Interesting that you’re so indignant about the “never been on the IL for a back injury” comment, yet you soft sell your acknowledgement for your “frequent back problems” statement. The facts are Judge missed 3 days in 2021 with back spasms. pinstripes17 statement is the truth, Judge never went on the IL. Your statement is not truthful.
I was told I was a ‘liar’ and “pushed a false narrative” and Judge was “never” on the IR for back injuries. Which are all LIES. Talk to that guy. Oh wait, thats your other account.
Also, a mistake is NOT a lie. Get educated.
rsmith: You go on in this chain of responses to discuss how back injuries are degenerative to further dig your “mistake” deeper. Your assertions are not based in any fact. The paper thin justification you used was a reference to an injury “report” that listed Judge’s back spasms as a back injury. Judge missed 1 game for said spasms.
All you had to do was a minute of research to find out the truth.
The only person lying here is you…this is my only account.
It wasnt just his back. Its every part of his body that is breaking down. There you happy. Trollz.
Perhaps not for back injuries. However, Judge has been in the league for 7 years and only has two seasons with 150+ games. He only has three with 113+ games. The most important aspect of any players game is availability. There is plenty of cause for concern.
Judge has work ethic and professionalism. He will look after himself. He has a good chance.
foppert:
Back problems are degenerative. No amount of “work ethic” can change that. Its not like knee injuries or tendon problems, where there are surgeries to remedy it. Science hasnt evolved enough on the spine.
Also, “work ethic” is a blanket statement said about lots of players. Bogaerts has a slew of columns about his ‘work ethic’:
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2022-12-14/column-xander-bogaerts-diligence-fundamentals-bode-well-for-padres
@foppert: Every player who makes it to the MLB level has work ethic and professionalism, or they wouldn’t be there.
Yeah you can. You can continually strengthen your back muscles and core and keep the excess weight off your frame. You don’t need medical advancements to treat your back right. Just discipline.
Wasn’t talking about Bogaerts.
You don’t need medi.
Different levels. Different discipline required to maintain it through 40.
“Wasn’t talking about Bogaerts.”
How is anyone to know? The thread literally starts with “Xander or Judge” and how their contracts will age.
foppert: you COMPLETELY changed your response. I shouldve waited the full 5 mins.
???
Can you change your response after publishing !
Wish I knew how to do that.
Im not responding for 2 more mins.
I am so confused.
I take your point re the Bogaerts comparison. So……..if I had spare $10 to drop on who will age better between Bogaerts and Judge, I’d go with Judge. I think it’s a special kind of mental animal that can maintain the physical work ethic rage for so many years, when you are guaranteed to get paid squillions either way. I think Judge has it. Reinforced by the fact that the careful Giants thought Judge has it. Bogaerts I don’t really know. It’s just an uneducated impression when it comes to that part of him.
No need to go into attack mode. We’re only here for light-hearted discussion.
Bogaerts obviously has it too, or he wouldn’t even be part of this conversation.
Sure. The question is how long will he maintain it for.
But it doesn’t really matter because Bogaerts and Judge are not comparable players, and there is no point in comparing apples to oranges.
Xander has maintained an above average walk rate for most of his career. Strikes out less than average and plays SS at least passably. There is a much longer tumble down the defensive spectrum for him. Saying his skills don’ age well is pretty dumb.
Everyone hits better at Fenway. Its like saying a Rockie hits better at home games.
Judge will have issues also, though having the enormous strike zone.
But your point is well taken. Judge will age much better than someone like Stanton because he has a much more solid approach-doesnt chase nearly as much.
Personally I’d take Arson Judge over Xavier Bogaerts
But you got deGrom instead.
The Padres picked their man? You mean Judge chose staying in New York over going to San Diego.
See who’s on the face of new $1,000 bill ? The Padre
At least these injuries are at the beginning of the season. With the new playoff format that lets in half of the league, wins and losses aren’t as important any more. Hopefully they’ll be in good shape for the second half of the season.
Yankees just need to rollout w Volpe. He’s done enough this spring in comparison to be given the nod
I hate to phrase it this way, but it may be more beneficial to have the injuries in the first half. The reason is because it should notably affect their performance, and for once, Cashman may actually make the moves needed.
Cashman reminds me of a guy who is going to take a cross county trip in a car. Prior to the trip he notices he has a couple bald tires, but instead of ensuring he gets new tires, or has at least one spare, he decides to hope for the best because the tires are usually reliable (and he just put Armor All tire shine on them). To make this more analogous, he takes this trip annually, and every year gets stuck because he gets a flat tire, therefore he never makes his destination. This year, he’s confident no flat tire will occur – based on pure hope.
Time to start the journey! He pulls out of the driveway and notices……he already has a flat tire. Cashman can’t understand how this happened, but he’s going to fix this by hoping the tire bounces back to new………
Donaldson is the one who needs to go. IKF isn’t in anyone’s way.
I was surprised that the Yankees couldn’t do any better than IKF. I saw him play for the Rangers and didn’t think he was very good.
Did you watch the playoffs last year? Yankees aren’t going anywhere with IKF at shortstop. He’s a liability in the field and a black hole in the lineup and he’s blocking their two best prospects from getting consistent playing time. Both Donaldson and IKF need to go, or more accurately, should never have been acquired in the first place.
IKF is not the starting SS, he’s a utility player. Peraza is the starter. Only a Peraza failure/injury will result in significant playing time for IKF. Neither he or Volpe will be on the MLB roster and sit the bench, that’s IKF.
To be clear, I’m not saying that IKF needs to stay just that he has utility as a plan B or C SS and backup. Donaldson has none as long as he looks like he did last year at the plate, which he has so far.
Teams no longer hope for one multi position player. Having Cabrera does not make IKF redundant.
“That would allow the Yankees to give Giancarlo Stanton more at bats in right field”
He’ll get the same at bats, and none of them will take place in right field.
He’s gunna be playing pepper down the line before the game
No Pepper
Most ABs are taken at home plate.
Haha, but that’s just “baseball talk.” It’s exactly as described in the box score, which is a universally recognized gane summary format.
I can’t wait for Gerrit Cole’s inevitable “forearm tightness,” with the usual slow roll out of worse news daily until the final reveal (shocking!) he will need TJS. Please let this be the year, and please let it happen soon!!!
Wait, you’re hoping for a player to get a horrible 14-18-month injury? What the heck is wrong with you?
Yes. Yes I am. Does that bother you?
So there’s this thing called the dark triad. Psychopath, sociopath, and Machiavellian. Wonder which one you are.
Who really cares? None of those players gives a damn about me. I care about them as much as they care what happens to me.
It’s not that you don’t care about them that matters. It’s that you wish them extreme harm. Did you torture and/or kill animals as a child? With the same amount of glee? P.S., i doubt any of these players who don’t care about you (perhaps because they don’t even know you) gleefully wish you harm. That’s the difference.
I love animals. I’d never hurt an animal. I would also never personally hurt a fellow human. But when it comes to baseball players, inevitably some of them will get hurt. I root for the i évitable injuries to befall Yankee players. If that bothers you, I invite you to suck it.
Just because you lack empathy doesn’t mean other people also lack empathy. But, people with emotional failings often make the blanket assumption that all others have the same failings as it is much easier than addressing their own deficiencies.
Thanks for setting me straight. I learned something today! And it really changes my outlook on life, the universe, and everything. I owe you a huge debt!
Ah sarcasm, the lowest form of humor. If nothing else, at least you have my pity.
No really. It makes me feel warm to know there are truly good, kind-hearted people like you in the world. I see so much darkness, sometimes I lose sight of the good in the world. But you helped me realize there is hope. People can change. And it is just plain wrong to root for Yankee players to get injured. You made the world a better place today, and our lord and saviour Jesus Christ smiles on you.
I know. You’re welcome.
Yeah, that’s kind of crappy, I’m a Red Sox fan, and I wouldn’t go that far
Meh. Hoping players get hurt doesn’t cause them to get hurt. I’m sure they don’t care what fans hope. Players get hurt every year…. I just hope it is Yankee players who get hurt. Big effing deal. I’m allowed to.
Yeah. Sociopaths never get it.
Your job history, which is displayed publicly through a link on this site, suggests you have a deep seeded issue with participating in societal norms. There’s a disturbing pattern apparent and your comments on this article only serve to back that up.
Societal norms are overrated.
Just a troll. Im pretty sure his name was ‘kewldood69’ last week. He had terrible things to say about Justin Turner when he got HBP in the face.
“Well, I’m guess I’m happy you guys are so privileged to pray for rich people with normal sports injuries.” — written by kewl last week about Turner
I am a “troll,” yes. But I don’t wish harm on Justin Turner…. He is not a Yankee.
“I love animals. I’d never hurt an animal.” Yeah, this is kind of a sure sign. I’m sure we’ve seen how terribly misanthropic ‘animal-loving’ people tend to get or the things they say online, so this doesn’t surprise me at all. “Troll” or not
I know right?! That guy is a real jerk! What a mean-spirited guy he is. Probably just a “troll” but I bet in real life he is just as misanthropic. We are better than him though, because we post positive, uplifting things on the internet (well mostly, aside from calling that guy names). We are the good guys. He is the bad guy.
The Yankees lead all of MLB in trombones. Whether it’s Boonedoggle or the Cash Man, it’s always, “Wah wah wah wah”.
Rodon already breaking down is not a good sign for the Yankee’s. They need their pitching to be elite. They just don’t have the sticks anymore other than Judge, who is always an injury waiting to happen.
Pitchers only go 4+ innings nowadays so it doesn’t matter if they don’t have a rotation. Just throw 100+ for those innings and take a rest. Just beef up on the bullpen.
Sure, there are dozens of unsigned pitchers that throw 100+. Cant believe no one has thought of this before.
You are down two starting pitchers and a center fielder. You aren’t sure who is starting in left or shortstop. The guy you got penciled in to fill right field is as fragile as a prom queen. Get ready, this is the Yankee Bust of 2023.
Down 3 starting pitchers. Montas and Rodon, plus Fat Nestor!
Why the Yankees paid IKF 6 million dollars is a true mystery
Hedging their bets in case none of the kids ran with job during the spring. In a way this is sort of reminiscent of the early 90’s when the Yankees had guys like Mike Gallego, Randy Velarde, Alvaro Espinoza, Andy Stankiewicz, and Dave Silvestri competing for the SS job.
I’d sell IKF into slavery at this point if it means I don’t have to watch him noodle arm another ball from the hole.
IKF has logged games at C/2B/3B/SS in his career and with the Yankees recent spate of injuries and the fact that spring training isn’t even half over yet they should probably take advantage of that versatility because it could definitely be a blessing by the time opening day arrives
Yankees trade IKF for a player who arrives in camp, slips on some ice near the Gatorade cooler, fractures his arm, and, while it’s being set, admits to the doctor some discomfort in the forearm the predated the trade. An MRI reveals ligament damage, and TJ surgery is scheduled for six weeks (give the break a chance to heal). The player, who had two years left on his contract, might be ready by the All Star break–next season.
We’ll trade him then everyone else will get injured.
Bringing back IKF reminds me of Kitchen Nightmares whenever chef Ramsay finds moldy vegetables inside a refrigerator. The owner would say that they were going to throw them out, but Ramsay would say, “why is it still there?” I felt the same when they brought back Urshela for $6mill in 2022 and IKF for about the same in 2023. Why? Even if he lost his spot in the starting lineup is he worth $6mil??? Waste of money and illustrates Cashman’s inability to assess value of his own players.
Where are the Padres getting this money from?
Tatis – 340m/14
Machado – 350M/11
Xander – 280M/11
Darvish- 108/6
Musgrove -100/5
Judge. – 415M/12
Soto. – God only knows
Ohtani. – I’m sure they’ll be in on it
He wants to win. Padres are destined to flame out after a half decade or so.