Toronto Blue Jays' Kiner-Falefa made an unusual offer to help team out
The Toronto Blue Jays welcomed back a familiar face over the weekend, and he’s already thinking outside the box to help the team win.
Not many fans expected the Blue Jays to claim Isiah Kiner-Falefa off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. The utilityman spent last season with the Jays and was traded at the 2024 deadline in a deal that saw prospect Charles McAdoo come back to Toronto.
With the Jays sitting atop the AL East in September, Kiner-Falefa is not expected to be an everyday player for Toronto. Instead, he will most likely spend most of the time on the bench and potentially help fill injury holes with concerns around the health of both Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement.
There is also some belief that he could provide value as a pinch-runner, as his baserunning has been a standout part of his game this season.
According to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, IKF has even offered to take up a position he hasn’t played in nearly five years.
“Isiah Kiner-Falefa says he’s very grateful to Pittsburgh for his time there but that landing with the Blue Jays is ‘the best possible situation,'” Zwelling reported on Monday.
“He’s been told he’ll play a bench utility role and has offered to take reps at catcher, which he played in the minors with the Rangers.”
Isiah Kiner-Falefa says he's very grateful to Pittsburgh for his time there but that landing with the Blue Jays is "the best possible situation"
He's been told he'll play a bench utility role and has offered to take reps at catcher, which he played in the minors with the Rangers
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) September 1, 2025
While many may know Kiner-Falefa better as a shortstop and infield utilityman, the 30-year-old Hawaiian does have an extensive history at the catcher position. He broke into the MLB with the Texas Rangers as a catcher and even started the 2019 season as a catching tandem along with Jeff Mathis.
Those days seemed to come to an end once he was traded to the New York Yankees, where he became the utility player that he is today. Still, it shows some commitment to the team that he is willing to step out of his comfort zone.
“I’m willing to do whatever they need me to do to give me this opportunity. I’m just excited to be here,” Kiner-Falefa told Zwelling. “I’ll be the best tenth man I can be. I take pride in that. I’m going to be doing everything I can to just provide energy, provide help. It’s the least I could do.”
While it’s a nice offer and shows his willingness to be flexible with his role, the Blue Jays already have two exceptional catchers on the roster in Alejandro Kirk and Tyler Heineman. If an injury pops up for either of those players, then having IKF once again don the catcher gear could become a possibility.