The Giants have reportedly expressed interest in Pirates infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
The San Francisco Giants have reached out to the Pittsburgh Pirates to express interest in acquiring infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, according to a report by Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, the Giants are running out of time to make significant upgrades to the roster. Granted, it’s worth wondering whether Kiner-Falefa would actually be an impactful addition.
“The Yankees have had a known interest in Kiner-Falefa,” Hiles wrote. “The Post-Gazette recently learned that the Giants have also inquired about the Pirates’ shortstop, although the extent of their interest is unknown. Kiner-Falefa has arguably been the Pirates most consistent hitter this year, batting .274 with a .658 OPS over 87 games.”
The Giants have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Kiner-Falefa for several weeks. However, his fit with the team seems more awkward now that Matt Chapman and Casey Schmitt are back from the injured list. Given the Giants offensive woes, it’s also unclear if Kiner-Falefa would compliment the roster.
A career .263/.313/.350 hitter, Kiner-Falefa has never been known for his offensive impact. This season, he’s hitting .274/.317/.339 with 12 doubles, two triples, and a home run in 315 plate appearances (88 games). A versatile defender who has played all over the diamond, he’s been the Pirates primary shortstop this season. Granted, he has extensive experience at second base, third base, and all three outfield positions.
Still, with Chapman and Wily Adames entrenched on the left side of the infield, acquiring Kiner-Falefa would seemingly make sense if the team is skeptical about Schmitt’s viability at second base or sees him as an upgrade over Brett Wisely, Tyler Fitzgerald, Christian Koss, and the team’s current utility infield options.