I'D LOVE IKF BACK! BUT WOULD HE WANT TO COME BACK?

My guy Isiah Kiner-Falefa — the ultimate utility player. The duct tape of a baseball roster. Currently manning shortstop duties for the Pirates, IKF is once again floating into the trade rumor mill, and wouldn’t you know it? The Yankees are lurking like an old flame scrolling through your Instagram stories. I kid, I kid... you don't have an ex-girlfriend.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, both the Giants and the Yankees are “keeping a close eye” on the 30-year-old infielder as we approach the MLB trade deadline. Why? Well, his contract is expiring, he’s affordable, and frankly, he’s exactly the kind of guy a team wants on its roster — versatile, low-maintenance, and not allergic to hard work.

Now, look. I’ll admit something here that I know not every Yankee fan will agree with: I liked IKF. There, I said it. When he was with the Yankees, he was a gamer. Played wherever they told him, kept his mouth shut, hustled his tail off, and smiled through what amounted to a thankless role. You needed a shortstop? IKF. Someone to fill in at third? IKF. A little outfield sprinkle? Yep, IKF. You needed someone to sit quietly while the organization drooled over Anthony Volpe like he was Jeter 2.0? IKF did that too.

But here’s the real kicker — he was set up to fail at shortstop. The Yankees sold us this dream that he’d lock it down like a young Andrelton Simmons. Instead, when mistakes happened (as they tend to in baseball), he became the scapegoat. It was Gleyber Torres 2.0: yank a guy out of his natural position, watch the errors pile up, then blame him for being human. Meanwhile, Volpe and Wells? Teflon. Mistake? “He’s learning.” Slump? “He’s maturing.” Strikeout with the bases loaded? “The analytics like his swing path.”

IKF didn’t get that kind of grace. He got the cold shoulder, the hot seat, and eventually, the exit.

And now the Yankees might want him back? I don’t know, man. If I’m IKF, I might just tell them to go kick rocks. Or better yet — send them a nice thank-you card with no return address.

Still, the rumors are swirling, and IKF could plug several holes for the Bombers. He’s hitting a not-so-sexy .216  and he’s proven he can handle pretty much any position not called “pitcher.”

The Yankees are doing a lot of things right this year. They’re winning games, their rotation’s been surprisingly durable, and Aaron Judge is once again reminding everyone he is, in fact, a baseball god. But they could use a guy like IKF — someone who can cover a lot of ground and doesn’t need a five-game hitting streak to keep his name on the lineup card.

So here we are. Could a reunion happen? Sure. Should it? Maybe. But if it does, let’s just hope this time around the Yankees give him the respect he deserves — and maybe don’t throw him to the wolves just because the golden boy is “still developing.”

IKF doesn’t need the Yankees. But the Yankees might just need him. Stay tuned.