5 Yankees most likely to be dealt at the trade deadline

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

As Billy McKinney and Jake Bauers have taken turns making surprising memories this season, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has gotten fewer and fewer starts (though he performed shockingly well at the plate in the absence of Aaron Judge, hitting .275 in June and .293 in July with above-average OPS+ marks in every month of the season besides April.

He makes $6 million this season, which is prorated down to $2 million for any team that could acquire him this summer. He's a free agent at the end of this season. He's done everything the Yankees have asked of him, including moving to the outfield despite having no experience at it. His inexperience, despite all his effort, has shone.

Will Kiner-Falefa be a Yankee beyond this season if he isn't dealt? Is there any chance New York extends an admittedly below-average bat and glues him to the bench/super utility role? He's good in that role, as long as he's kept out of center/left field (excepting emergencies). But is there really a middle ground for this team to keep a non-starter at ~$7-8 million, with all their other rising costs? He could continue his 2023 heater and make a contender in need of solid ABs very happy. Maybe Milwaukee comes calling? They're interested in Jon Berti. IKF can approximate his skill set.