Summarize this content to 100 words: The Red Sox are closing in on a deal with infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Cotillo adds that it’s likely to be a one-year deal for the ALIGND Sports Agency client. Boston has an open 40-man roster spot and won’t need to make a corresponding move.
Kiner-Falefa will apparently be the Sox’s answer at second base after they lost Alex Bregman to free agency. Boston kicked around much bigger possibilities on the trade and free agent markets (e.g. Ketel Marte, Brendan Donovan, Isaac Paredes, Bo Bichette) but evidently couldn’t find a deal to their liking. They reportedly prefer to keep Marcelo Mayer at third base and were looking for a quality defensive player whom they could plug in at the keystone.
A former Gold Glove winner, Kiner-Falefa qualifies on that front. He took home the defensive honor at third base as a member of the Rangers in 2020. He’s a plus defender at any of second base, third base or shortstop. He has more experience on the left side of the infield but carries strong marks from Defensive Runs Saved (+12) and Statcast (+2 Outs Above Average) in nearly 600 career innings as a second baseman.
More to come.
