Stay or Go: Should Yankees bring Isiah Kiner-Falefa back for 2024?

To Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s credit, he went from having a dreadful 2022 campaign as a starter -- where the Yankees fan base turned on him -- to being a respectable utility man in 2023.

Perhaps expectations for IKF weren’t as high once he became mostly a bench player with Anthony Volpe taking the everyday shortstop job, but the 28-year-old found his role on the team and performed well, especially during the months where the Yanks were decimated by injuries.

After slashing .261/.314/.327 in his first season in pinstripes, IKF hit for more power and continued to hit in clutch situations in Year 2.

The utility man is an unrestricted free agent and although he isn’t seen as a starter on this Yankees team heading into 2024, should the Yanks bring IKF back for 2024?

Why it could make sense to let IKF go

Prior to the 2023 season, IKF and the Yankees agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal to avoid arbitration. It’s a little difficult to see the organization giving him a bigger deal, even if it’s for one year, to bring him back.

With so many holes in the lineup, the Bombers should use the money freed up by players hitting free agency to shore up the outfield and the starting rotation. They can then bring in players on team-friendly contracts to fill out the bench.

Financials aside, IKF saw his numbers dip in 2023. While the homers were up (he hit six, up from four), his batting average and on base percentage took a hit. Perhaps that was a result of not being in the lineup every day, but he played 115 games this past season, which is a large enough sample size to get an idea of how he would fare in a full season.

Digging deeper, IKF was one of the lightest-hitting players in 2023. According to Baseball Savant, his xwOBA was .292, which ranked in the 13th percentile in all of MLB. His xSLG (.340) was in the ninth percentile while his barrel percentage (3.1) was in the sixth percentile. His average exit velocity (88.8) and hard-hit percentage (39.2) were both also below the league average, ranking in the 39th and 40th percentile, respectively.

For a contact-first hitter, his whiff percentage (19.6) was in the 81st percentile, and he was in the 66th percentile in strikeout percentage. In short, IKF saw his strikeout rate increase and his ability to get on base decrease.

We also have to look at his fielding. While he was solid in various positions including the outfield, he won’t excel like an Oswald Peraza at third base, Jasson Dominguez in center field or potentially Cody Bellinger in left field.

Why it could make sense to keep IKF

Any argument for IKF to remain in pinstripes starts with his availability and his flexibility around the diamond.

After the shortened 2020 season -- where he played 58 of the 60 possible games -- he went on to play in 158 and 142 games the next two years before he appeared in 115 games in a hybrid role for the Yanks in 2023.

This past season saw IKF play six positions -- seven if you include his multiple pitching appearances -- which can be invaluable to a Yankees team that has a lot of injury-prone players.

The argument for IKF to stay also has to include his clutch hitting. With runners in scoring position this past season, he hit .288 (21-for-73) with three doubles and 28 RBI. With a runner on third base and two out, IKF was 4-for-8 with a double, eight RBI and two walks.

Potentially having that sort of production off the bench or in a spot-start is invaluable. And if you think this season was a fluke, IKF hit .327 (37-for-113) with runners in scoring position in 2022 with a home run and 43 RBI. That includes hitting 8-for-25 with a double and 12 RBI with a man on third and two outs.

And then there's his defense. If you play multiple positions you have to be at least solid defensively, and IKF has been. 

Overall, he has two outs above average in the field, which puts him in the 79th percentile according to Baseball Savant.

Verdict

Bringing IKF back is a tricky proposition. He plays so many positions, making him extremely valuable on the bench, but how much will it cost the Yankees?

If IKF is willing to give a discount for a two-or one-year deal, it makes sense to have the safety net of the utilityman at their disposal. If he tests free agency and there's a team willing to give him more money, then it's time for the Yankees to look elsewhere.