Isiah Kiner-Falefa definitely ruffled some feathers with his recent comment, taking a swipe at the Yankees’ supposed dominance. After moving on from the Blue Jays to the Red Sox, he opened up about what it was like for Toronto last season when weighing a potential ALCS matchup between the Yankees and Boston.
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According to Kiner-Falefa, the Blue Jays were more comfortable facing the Yankees than the Red Sox. Why? Because in his view, New York was simply the easier opponent. That surely sent Yankees fans into a frenzy, and it didn’t take long for a response to come from the Bronx.
Enter Aaron Boone, who finally weighed in and fired back on behalf of the Yankees.
“It’s a little surprising to hear IKF say that, but whatever. That’s fine,” Boone fired back from the Yankees spring training camp. Reacting to this, Section10Pod Host Tyler Milliken said, “F*** it. IKF getting in Aaron Boone’s head this early is worth the $6 MM alone.”
Fuck it. IKF getting in Aaron Boone’s head this early is worth the $6 MM alone. pic.twitter.com/yNNwB11eW5
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) February 11, 2026
Kiner-Falefa’s comment definitely hit home with Red Sox fans, and honestly, that’s no surprise. The Yankees–Red Sox rivalry has been simmering for decades, and over the years, we’ve seen plenty of names like Sonny Gray, Aroldis Chapman, and Hunter Brown take their shots at New York and try to get under the Yankees’ skin.
But in Kiner-Falefa’s case, it barely took a few days in a Red Sox uniform for him to jump right into the fire.
And what makes it even more intriguing is the context. He’s on a one-year, $6 million deal, and according to Milliken, that contract already feels worth it for Boston just based on the noise he’s made. But the big question is this: Does Kiner-Falefa actually have the numbers to back up what he said? Or was this just a bold, no-filter jab at the Yankees to fire up his new fanbase?
Reportedly, in 2025, the Red Sox went 5–8 against the Blue Jays. Toronto dominated the matchup early, though Boston made a late push and won two of three in a key September series. And we still remember Boston’s eye-popping 15–1 blowout of the Jays on June 28!
The Yankees, however, had a much rougher time against Toronto. The Blue Jays took the regular-season series 8–5, highlighted by a crucial four-game sweep. Then came the postseason. After the Yankees knocked out Boston in the Wild Card round, they ran straight into Toronto again in the ALDS. But we were sent packing once more, losing the series 3–1 while being outscored 34–19.
So, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has the stats on his side, which might have made Boone not go absolutely overboard with his response. However, Boston loves it, and their social media chatter is the proof!
Isiah Kiner-Falefa gets hailed by the Red Sox fans
The Red Sox fans are enjoying how Kiner-Falefa took out the Yankees, and that too without many repercussions. “Paying for production is one thing. Paying rent in Boone’s head all season? That’s a luxury tax I can get behind,” one fan said. “Damn, I’d give him $7M for this alone,” another added.
Well, the Red Sox getting Kiner-Falefa for $6 million is a steal deal. Why? Because Kiner-Falefa is a true-blue utility player who can play second base, third base, and shortstop, as well as the outfield. So, it will help Alex Cora to field him as insurance behind Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, and Caleb Durbin. However, for the fans, what Kiner-Falefa has already done is beyond his contract and just adds to his utilitarian value!
A few fans are taking a more cautious route. “Similar to IKF’s stellar skill on the diamond, Aaron Boone was left speechless,” one user remarked. “As far as I’m concerned, IKF just paid for himself with this interaction alone. He can bat .192, and I don’t care LMAO,” added another.
Despite Kiner-Falefa’s utility, he struggled last year. Remember, in what could have been a title-winning run, he got thrown out by the Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas in the ninth inning of Game 7. He was out at home plate by Rojas on Daulton Varsho’s grounder, leaving the Jays behind. And last year, he batted .262 with only 2 HRs. So, while Kiner-Falefa made his first mark with the Red Sox, fans are cautious to see him on the field.
“Let us know if you still feel that way even ikf is horrible this year,” one fan agrees.
Nevertheless, how Isiah Kiner-Falefa would perform for the Red Sox would be clear in the next few months, but for now, the Red Sox fans are riding on how their newest man took the fight to the Yankees.