TAMPA — Et tu, IKF?
That was not exactly Aaron Boone’s response to Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s recent dig that the Blue Jays thought the Yankees were a better matchup for them than the Red Sox in last year’s ALDS.
But the manager was not overly interested in getting into a sparring match with his former player, either.
“I guess he was right,” Boone said Wednesday at Steinbrenner Field. “Little surprising to hear IKF say that, but whatever. That’s fine.”
Kiner-Falefa, who only started one of the four games in the ALDS for the Blue Jays as they whooped the Yankees, made the revelation Tuesday in his first day as a Red Sox player — following the lead of new teammates Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, who also leaned into the rivalry in their first comments in Boston.
The Yankees beat the Red Sox in three games in the AL wild-card series, but Kiner-Falefa said the Blue Jays, who had a bye to face the winner of that series, had some rooting interest
“We thought it was a better matchup for us the other way [to face the Yankees],” Kiner-Falefa told reporters in Fort Myers, Fla., per The Athletic. “We were watching that [series], and we were watching [Garrett] Crochet just dice up.
“I think we had just lost two out of three [to Boston], and it put us behind the Yankees or tied us with them for the AL East lead [in late September]. We definitely felt [Boston] was a tougher matchup for us. Once we saw the other team, we were a lot happier. It was definitely a topic.”
Perhaps that should not be much of a surprise, as the Blue Jays had the Yankees’ number during the regular season, especially at Rogers Centre.
Asked if he was bothered by Kiner-Falefa’s comments, Boone insisted he was not, even if his tone suggested at least a hint of being perturbed.
“Not really, honestly,” Boone said. “You got to play who you play. Whatever.”
Paul Goldschmidt declined to reveal if he had any offers to start at first base with other teams, but said he was happy to be back with the Yankees in what is expected to be a reserve role behind first baseman Ben Rice.
“Honestly, when last year ended, I had such a good time here, I was hoping my time wasn’t done,” said Goldschmidt, who agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal that had not yet been made official as of Wednesday. “I think Benny’s definitely going to be planning to be getting the bulk of the playing time over there. I’m definitely fine with whatever role they need me [in]. Whenever I get an opportunity, I’ll be ready to go.
Boone said he believed that all pitchers, catchers and WBC participants reported as scheduled Wednesday, with position players set to join them Sunday.
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