The Boston Red Sox have reportedly signed infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year contract, a move that could bolster their infield depth ahead of spring training. The veteran player is expected to log reps at multiple positions across the infield, including shortstop, third base, and second base.
Kiner-Falefa comes off an impressive 2025 season with both the Pirates and Blue Jays, where he appeared in 138 games and demonstrated his defensive prowess, earning a Gold Glove award during the 2020 season with the Texas Rangers. His versatility at multiple positions makes him an attractive option for the Red Sox, who have lost two key infielders from free agency.
However, Kiner-Falefa's offense has been a concern throughout his career. He batted just .262 in 2025, with only two home runs and 40 RBI, which raises questions about whether he can provide enough power to complement the Red Sox' defense. With Marcelo Mayer set to man third base, the team will need Kiner-Falefa to bring some much-needed pop from the plate if they're to succeed at second.
The Red Sox have other options in the infield, including Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, and Nick Sogard, who could share reps with Kiner-Falefa. While his signing does offer some defensive value, it's unclear whether he can provide enough offense for Boston to be a contender this season.
Kiner-Falefa comes off an impressive 2025 season with both the Pirates and Blue Jays, where he appeared in 138 games and demonstrated his defensive prowess, earning a Gold Glove award during the 2020 season with the Texas Rangers. His versatility at multiple positions makes him an attractive option for the Red Sox, who have lost two key infielders from free agency.
However, Kiner-Falefa's offense has been a concern throughout his career. He batted just .262 in 2025, with only two home runs and 40 RBI, which raises questions about whether he can provide enough power to complement the Red Sox' defense. With Marcelo Mayer set to man third base, the team will need Kiner-Falefa to bring some much-needed pop from the plate if they're to succeed at second.
The Red Sox have other options in the infield, including Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, and Nick Sogard, who could share reps with Kiner-Falefa. While his signing does offer some defensive value, it's unclear whether he can provide enough offense for Boston to be a contender this season.
I mean, they've got a good defense but offense is key in baseball, right? He's only hitting .262 and that's pretty mediocre, especially for a guy who's supposed to play second base where power isn't as big of a deal. Plus, Marcelo Mayer is already set at third so you'd think Kiner-Falefa would have to hit the ball out of the park just to be worth it. I'm not convinced he's the right pick... 
. He's got some decent defense skills, I'll give him that 
. But his offense has been pretty meh for years now... .262 AVG with only 2 HRs and 40 RBI? That's not exactly what you want from your infielder 
. And with Marcelo Mayer at 3B, I'm not sure Kiner-Falefa is gonna be the game-changer everyone's hoping for 
. They've got other guys on the roster who can share reps and bring some pop to the table 
️. Maybe they're just trying to fill a hole or something? 
. They need someone who can bring the heat from the plate, you know? And with Marcelo Mayer already set at third, they're gonna need Kiner-Falefa to deliver some big hits if they wanna make a deep run 
. Plus, they've got other options in the infield, so we'll see how it all plays out 
they were so young and talented then... now they're signing guys like isiah kiner-falefa who are solid but not exactly game changers 
. I mean, what happened to that power-hitting 2B we had last season?