Ex-Yankees star rejects $250K earning chance: ‘I didn’t deserve it’

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Ex-Yankees utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa came just four plate appearances shy of hitting a significant milestone this season, falling short of the 500 required to trigger a $250,000 performance bonus. With 496 plate appearances, he missed out on an opportunity to secure the bonus, sitting out the final weekend games against the Yankees.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Kiner-Falefa made a selfless decision, choosing to step aside and allow younger teammates to play instead. The former Yankees star had reportedly been offered the chance to take the field about an hour before Saturday’s game, which could have helped him reach the bonus. However, Kiner-Falefa declined, saying he had already mentally prepared to sit out and felt it was important for younger players, such as teammate “Peggy,” to experience playing at Yankee Stadium.

Reflecting on the season, Kiner-Falefa noted that an injury had sidelined him for a month, and he speculated that he would have easily surpassed the 500-plate appearance mark had he remained healthy or if the team had been more competitive. Given those factors, The ex-Yankees shortstop felt he hadn’t truly earned the bonus and chose to focus on his teammates’ opportunities instead.

“When I got to the field and they found out, they came up to me maybe an hour before the game and they gave me the option [to play],” he said. “At that point, I kinda already checked out. At this point, I didn’t think it was fair to take a spot from Peggy, or one of the young guys, an opportunity to play at Yankee Stadium away from them. I got hurt this year. I missed a month. If that doesn’t happen, or if we’re actually in a real race, I crush those incentives by a long shot. So, at the end of the day, I feel like I didn’t deserve it from that aspect.”

Former Yankees player puts principle above bonus

Shortstop Liover Peguero received extra playing time after Isiah Kiner-Falefa was left out of the lineup. General Manager Ben Cherington discussed the situation on his radio show, as reported by the Post-Gazette, emphasizing the importance of giving players opportunities in the season’s final stretch. Cherington also noted the team’s cautious approach to managing player health, aiming to prevent minor injuries from becoming major concerns.

Cherington revealed that daily conversations about playing time had taken place between Manager Derek Shelton, Bench Coach Don Kelly, and the position players. The discussions with Kiner-Falefa regarding his role coincided with the weekend’s games.

After Sunday’s game, Shelton added more context, explaining that Kiner-Falefa understood the team’s decision to prioritize playing time for younger players. Shelton said there had been back-and-forth communication once the team realized Kiner-Falefa was close to reaching the plate appearance threshold for his performance bonus. Ultimately, the decision was left to the former Yankees star, and Shelton assured him they would have let him play if he had expressed interest.

Kiner-Falefa joined the Pirates as part of a trade with the Blue Jays at this year’s deadline. He was previously acquired by the Yankees before the 2022 season in a deal involving Josh Donaldson and Gary Sánchez. While with the Yankees, Kiner-Falefa showcased his versatility, posting a .253 batting average with a .643 OPS, 10 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases. He also played six different positions, including a brief appearance as a pitcher.

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