Toronto Blue Jays lose World Series scapegoat to division rival

He was an inch away from helping the Toronto Blue Jays win the World Series.

But, it wasn't meant to be.

Now, infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa is leaving Toronto to sign with a division rival.

ESPN's Jeff Passan was the first to report that Kiner-Falefa is leaving the Blue Jays to sign with the Boston Red Sox on a one-year deal.

It shouldn't be a surprise that Kiner-Falefa is leaving the Jays organization. The 30-year-old was already traded once by the Jays. After signing a two-year deal with Toronto in 2023, Kiner-Falefa was traded from Toronto to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024.

He returned to the Blue Jays for their postseason run after being claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh in late August, 2025.

The Hawaii native was an offseason afterthought as the Jays looked to bolster their roster for another World Series push in 2026.

But aside from the Jays' crammed depth chart, you couldn't blame Kiner-Falefa for wanting a fresh start.

After coming up just short of helping the Blue Jays win the World Series, the eight-year pro told the media that he had threats from people to "break his legs," along with pinning the loss on him.

Kiner-Falefa explained his stance on the play, stating that he stayed close to the base to avoid getting doubled off. His explanation was backed up by other MLBers watching the game.

Although it was unfair, Kiner-Falefa became a scapegoat for some in the fan base. 

He'll now join his sixth MLB team in nine seasons, and his third in the AL East, after previous stops with Toronto and the New York Yankees.