MIAMI — Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been solid all over the dirt and playable in the outfield for the Yankees, but he might be best equipped to play third base.
Kiner-Falefa said he feels most comfortable anywhere around the infield, though he might have found his true major league calling as a player without a position.
The primary shortstop from the 2022 season, he has taken well to a utility role in which he has played every position except first base and catcher (which he occasionally played earlier in his career).
In a few months, Kiner-Falefa will head into free agency off a strong season in which he has flexed his flexibility.
He said he is “open to everything,” so a team that has a need at third base or shortstop or in an outfield spot could come calling, but he believes he will be best valued as a positional nomad.
What will matter more to him will be the club’s situation, rather than his defensive position.
“I’m happy wherever as long as I get an opportunity to play and just be on a winning team,” Kiner-Falefa said Saturday before the Yankees lost to the Marlins, 3-1, at loanDepot Park. “I think that’s the biggest thing, going through a [season with a Rangers] team that lost 100 games in 2021. I don’t really want to be a part of that. I want to be on a winning team.”
Kiner-Falefa’s teams did not have a winning season through his four years with the Rangers before he was traded to the Twins, then to the Yankees the next day in March 2022.
He has a subpar first season in The Bronx, with both the glove and bat, but came back this season as a do-everything option who seems more comfortable everywhere.
He might look the most comfortable at third base, starting four straight games there through Saturday with DJ LeMahieu nursing a calf injury.
Kiner-Falefa looked natural sprinting Friday on a soft grounder from Luis Arraez, fielding and throwing a dart off-balance for an out.
“I think he’s the best in the league [at third],” said the Yankees’ new shortstop, rookie Anthony Volpe.
“That’s what I did in Texas,” Kiner-Falefa, who won a Gold Glove at third base in the shortened 2020 season, said with a smile. “Feel like Yankees fans didn’t see that, but that’s what I do.”
What he has also done this season is hit.
The traditional contact hitter has swung harder this year and carries a .690 OPS (up from .642 last year), a bit above-average after a poor April.
He was the one Yankee to knock in a run against Sandy Alcantara on Saturday, swatting an RBI single into right field in the seventh inning.
If he can offer a roughly league-average bat and a glove capable of playing anywhere, he would have a number of teams interested.
It is possible the Yankees would be among them.
“I love it here,” Kiner-Falefa said, “and would want to stay for sure.”