Is Toronto’s Kevin Kiermaier teasing a switch to the Yankees?

Saturday September 23, 2023

Blue Jays’ Kevin Kiermaier seems willing to consider changing teams this offseason and wearing the Yankees’ pinstriped uniform. The New York Yankees need a good hand in the centerfield after rookie sensation Jasson Dominguez underwent Tommy John surgery.

The three-time Gold Glove winner is having one of his best offensive seasons in his first year with the Blue Jays. Kevin Kiermaier played for the Blue Jays for his first 10 seasons, where he was an average hitter but made a big impact as an outfielder.

The upcoming free agent might join another team in the AL East, making it Kevin Kiermaier’s third team in the division. It’s worth noting that this team doesn’t play its home games on artificial turf, unlike the Rays and the Blue Jays.

Kevin Kiermaier inclined to join the Yankees

This week, when his Blue Jays won the first two of three games against the Yankees but lost Thursday’s finale, 5-3, Kevin Kiermaier said he preferred to stay in the AL East, particularly because he spent his entire career in the division. He confessed his love for the Bronx and Fenway.

Kevin Kiermaier also explained that he wanted to play on natural grass rather than artificial turf, citing that it would make the body feel better. He added that he has spent his entire career playing on turf and enjoys the change when he gets to play on grass.

He’s been a tough opponent for the Yankees due to his ability to make contact at the plate and his smooth fielding skills. Kevin Kiermaier, a left-handed hitter, has consistently performed well at Yankee Stadium throughout his career, boasting an OPS (On-base plus slugging percentage) of .850.

Kevin Kiermaier’s batting average of .269 and OPS of .757 in the current season are his best since 2017. He attributed his improved offensive performance to various factors, including his approach to making contact with the ball.

The center fielder, who had a 1-for-3 performance with a run scored in the Blue Jays’ loss on Thursday, has hit only eight home runs in 2023. But hitting even eight home runs was more than Kevin Kiermaier initially expected for this season.

Kevin Kiermaier explained that he aimed for a simplified approach in his game. He set a goal not to hit any home runs this year, highlighting that his strikeout rate of 21.2 percent this year was the best since 2016. According to him, it is important to use the whole field and avoid a power-hitting approach, mentioning that he had occasionally tried to rely on power in the past, which didn’t usually work out. Instead, he focused on a middle-away approach for the first time, and he found that it yielded positive results.

Should the Yankees go for him?

Looking ahead to the offseason, the options for center fielders appear limited, with players like Cody Bellinger, Harrison Bader, and Kevin Kiermaier being among the few available. This could make the Toronto player an attractive option for the Yankees, especially given the recent loss of Jasson Dominguez to injury, who will have a lengthy recovery period of nine to ten months.

The Yankees are searching for a temporary solution at center field, and the 33-year-old Kiermaier could be an attractive choice. But in 2022, he had hip surgery and then signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Blue Jays during the last offseason. Since then, he has made a strong comeback, re-establishing himself as one of the best defensive outfielders in the league.

Kevin Kiermaier of the Toronto Blue Jays — NATHAN DENETTE/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Kevin Kiermaier currently holds the highest rating among center fielders for Defensive Runs Saved and ranks third when measured by Outs Above Average. The player is confident that he is in a good spot heading into free agency, given his age and recovery from hip surgery. While he acknowledges his excellent defensive abilities, he recognizes potential injury risks. He emphasized that hitting is crucial and wanted to prove to himself and others that he can handle the bat well, expressing contentment with his overall performance.

Additionally, Kevin Kiermaier discovered that his vision had been deteriorating. He went to an eye specialist, got his eyes examined, and was prescribed contact lenses, which he started wearing for the first time this year. According to him, his vision was way worse than he thought in the past. He added that he feels like he is just seeing the ball a lot better.

With improved vision and a rehabilitated hip, Kevin Kiermaier also worked on his hitting approach. While he has hit up to 15 home runs in a season, power-hitting has not been his primary strength.

The Yankees, who rely on right-handed hitters for strikeouts and have some defensive weaknesses, could consider him a potential fit for their team. Kiermaier, while enjoying his time with the Blue Jays in their playoff push, also recognizes that he has put himself in a good position for the upcoming offseason.

Kevin Kiermaier commented that he’s motivated by free agency, although he prefers to focus on the present and will deal with the situation when it arises. He believes he still has a lot to offer in his baseball career.

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