The New York Yankees weren’t getting good defensive play from shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the first three games of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Since his offensive ceiling is limited, too, Yankees manager Aaron Boone decided to use Oswaldo Cabrera as the starting shortstop for the last two games, adding Aaron Hicks as the left fielder.
For the first game of the AL Championship Series against the Houston Astros, however, Boone is going back to Kiner-Falefa as his starting shortstop even though he decided to bring Oswald Peraza on the roster this time around.
“Isiah Kiner-Falefa back at SS tonight, but Aaron Boone said ‘it’s going to be an every day decision’ with Oswald Peraza and Oswaldo Cabrera,” Yankees insider Bryan Hoch tweeted.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa back at SS tonight, but Aaron Boone said “it’s going to be an every day decision” with Oswald Peraza and Oswaldo Cabrera.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) October 19, 2022
The Yankees Options At The Shortstop Position
The Yankees have three options: the first one is starting Kiner-Falefa and deploying Cabrera as the left fielder, now that Hicks is not available.
The second one is starting Peraza at shortstop, who is inexperienced but talented and better defensively than any other alternative the Yankees have.
The other one is using Cabrera as a shortstop and Giancarlo Stanton, Tim Locastro or Matt Carpenter in the outfield.
Since he wanted to give Cabrera some rest, he opted with a mix of the first one and the third one.
The situation, according to Boone, will be fluid.
However, the best option for New York would be going with Peraza.
It’s a risky move, but they get a major defensive boost, some speed, and more offensive upside than Kiner-Falefa can offer.
Let’s see who starts tomorrow, but for today, Kiner-Falefa is the man.
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