Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson were the biggest and most immediate pieces to join the Yankees in their famed swap with the Minnesota Twins in 2022. While IKF had an OK season as New York’s starting shortstop, it still left a lot to be desired.
He wasn’t expected to be the second coming of Derek Jeter. But, his overall performance could’ve been better (it was worth 1.4 fWAR). That was evidenced by guys like Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza getting starts in his place down the stretch, and even in the postseason.
The Yankees didn’t need to tender IKF a $6 million contract for 2023.