Isiah Kiner-Falefa stirred the pot this week with some candid postseason hindsight - and he didn’t hold back when it came to his former team, the New York Yankees.
Speaking about last year’s playoffs, Kiner-Falefa, now with the Boston Red Sox, revealed that his then-team, the Toronto Blue Jays, were pulling for the Yankees to advance in the postseason. Not out of camaraderie - but because they thought New York would be the easier matchup.
That’s a bold statement, especially coming from a guy who spent two seasons in pinstripes under Aaron Boone. And it didn’t take long for Boone to respond.
“I guess he was right,” Boone told reporters on Wednesday, reacting to the comments. “A little surprising to hear IKF say that, but whatever. That’s fine.”
When asked if the comments got under his skin, Boone shrugged it off: “Not really, honestly. You’ve got to play who you play.”
The Yankees, of course, did end up facing the Blue Jays in the postseason - and lost. That result only adds weight to Kiner-Falefa’s comments, even if they sting a bit for the Bronx Bombers.
Kiner-Falefa isn’t just some outsider throwing jabs. He knows the Yankees’ clubhouse, the culture, and the expectations.
He was part of the 2022 squad that reached the ALCS before getting swept by the Astros. So when he says the Jays preferred facing New York over Boston, it carries more than just typical rivalry trash talk - it’s coming from someone who’s lived both sides.
Now with the Red Sox, Kiner-Falefa is set to see the Yankees plenty in 2026. And while Boone may be brushing it off publicly, don’t be surprised if those comments are pinned to a bulletin board somewhere in the Yankees’ clubhouse. Rivalries are built on moments like this.
And if you're looking for a little extra juice in this year’s AL East matchups? Well, thanks to IKF, we’ve got it.