Kiermaier, Kiner-Falefa talk signing with Toronto

This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Meet the new guys.

Well, you’ve met Kevin Kiermaier already, but the defensive maestro is back on a one-year, $10.5 million deal alongside the versatile Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who signed for two years and $15 million.

This represents the start of the Blue Jays’ offseason, not the entire picture. But when general manager Ross Atkins spoke on Wednesday, he pointed much of his optimism to the existing roster instead of future additions. That, Atkins believes, is where the biggest strides will come from.

Kiermaier and Kiner-Falefa will need to be part of those improvements, and here’s what each brings:

What will Kiner-Falefa’s role be?

“It will depend on the rest of our offseason, really,” Atkins said. “There could be a pathway for him to get a lot of third-base at-bats with the way we’re currently constructed. That could change.”

Atkins also mentioned Santiago Espinal and Cavan Biggio as options at third base, a list that could extend to include several prospects who will be in camp competing for a job. Kiner-Falefa has the rare ability to play all over the diamond, having spent time at shortstop, center field and even catcher. Kiner-Falefa felt that he was “stiffening up” at times as the Yankees’ full-time shortstop in 2022, though, and wants to focus on staying loose and athletic in '24, regardless of where he plays.

“I would say that third base is, by far, my best position,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I don’t have to think when I play third base, I just show up and everything comes easy there.”

What drew Kiner-Falefa to the Blue Jays?

Kiner-Falefa on the team: “I’m here to win. That’s the biggest thing. I looked across when I was playing in New York at Vladdy [Guerrero Jr.], Bo [Bichette], George [Springer], everyone on that team. I didn’t like facing any of the pitchers and did not like playing defense when those guys were hitting. Vladdy hits the ball harder than a lot of people in the league, Bo as well -- everybody. It’s a team that I knew was ready to win.”

Kiner-Falefa on the city: “I was born and raised in Hawaii, so I didn’t see big buildings. When I was in New York, I really fell in love with the city and the fast pace, which is what everybody normally tries to leave. Being born in Hawaii, where everything is slow, I like being in a place where it’s fast. I’m half Samoan, a quarter white and a quarter Japanese, so I love Asian food, and I’ve never seen so many good Asian restaurants lined up. Toronto is so multicultural.”

What will Kiermaier’s role be?

Kiermaier shared that many teams in free agency viewed him as a part-time player or fourth outfielder, which is surprising. Sure, Kiermaier turns 34 in April, but he’s one of the game’s best defenders and is coming off an excellent year at the plate by his standards. He should fit in plenty of lineups that have some pop up top.

Now that he’s back, so is his 2023 role.

“I would expect and hope that his role is largely similar, where he is playing very regularly for us based on health and performance,” Atkins said. “KK has been remarkable in his career for two organizations now. We benefited last year from having him around. It’s so difficult for someone to bring that level of energy and positivity on a daily and nightly basis, and KK somehow finds a way to do it. Fans felt it. Our clubhouse feels it. Our entire team feels it.”

One thing to watch for? Kiermaier wants to hit for more power, flipping the script after he joked one year ago that his goal was to hit zero home runs and be the best No. 9 hitter in baseball. He believes -- and you can see the belief is earnest -- that he has another level to unlock.

“I’m as motivated as I’ve ever been right now,” Kiermaier said, leaning in to the camera. “I can never sit still. I’ve got this fire in me."

What drew Kiermaier back to the Blue Jays?

Kiermaier on his market: “This year, my offers weren’t anything near last year -- after winning a Gold Glove, after I said that I was going to be the best nine-hole hitter in the game and play Gold Glove-caliber defense. I did everything I said, but still, not many teams were interested which caught me off-guard.”

As that process played out, Kiermaier knew the Blue Jays remained interested and they made him a fair offer, which he was “grateful” to have. Kiermaier’s first thought when the ink dried?

“Unfinished business.”