The Boston Red Sox are continuing to reshape their roster this offseason, and while the front office has taken some heat for missing out on marquee free agents, they’re still making moves that could pay off in meaningful ways. Their latest addition?
Utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who’s agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal that includes up to $500,000 in incentives based on plate appearances. The deal is pending a physical.
Kiner-Falefa is no stranger to movement-Boston will be his fifth MLB team since debuting with the Texas Rangers back in 2018. At 31, he’s carved out a reputation as a Swiss Army knife in the field, and that versatility could be exactly what manager Alex Cora needs as he figures out how to fill some key holes in the infield.
Last season was a winding road for Kiner-Falefa. He started the year with the Pittsburgh Pirates and ended it on baseball’s biggest stage with the Toronto Blue Jays, who claimed him off waivers at the end of August.
While his offensive numbers in 2025 weren’t eye-popping-he slashed .262/.297/.334 over 459 plate appearances for a 76 OPS+-he still managed to contribute in other areas, including 15 stolen bases in 19 attempts. His glove, as always, was a major part of his value.
Defensively, Kiner-Falefa logged innings across the infield and showed flashes of his usual reliability. At shortstop, he posted 1 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and -3 Outs Above Average (OAA) over 817 innings.
He was more effective at third base, where he recorded 3 DRS and 2 OAA in just over 250 innings. Even at second base, where he played sparingly, he held his own with 1 DRS and neutral OAA.
That kind of flexibility gives Cora plenty of options-and that’s before even mentioning that Kiner-Falefa has played at least 40 innings at every outfield position and catcher over the course of his career.
With Alex Bregman now in Chicago, the Red Sox have open competition at both second and third base. Kiner-Falefa is expected to be firmly in that mix, alongside top prospect Marcelo Mayer and internal options like Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, Nate Eaton, and Nick Sogard. The battle for those spots will be one of the more intriguing storylines to watch as spring training ramps up.
Kiner-Falefa may not be the kind of splashy signing that grabs headlines, but he brings real value to a team that needs depth, flexibility, and steady defense. His bat may be streaky, but his ability to move around the diamond and contribute in multiple roles makes him a useful piece as the Red Sox look to bounce back in 2026.