Red Sox trade Benintendi to Royals in 3-team deal involving Mets
The Boston Red Sox sent outfielder Andrew Benintendi and cash considerations to the Kansas City Royals in a three-team trade also involving the New York Mets, the club announced Wednesday.
Kansas City is sending outfield prospect Khalil Lee to the Mets in the deal and outfielder Franchy Cordero along with two players to be named later to the Red Sox.
Right-hander Josh Winckowski and another PTBNL are going from the Mets to the Red Sox. Winckowski was recently acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Steven Matz deal.
The players to be named will not be chosen until after the minor league season begins, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom acknowledged that dealing a homegrown talent like Benintendi was a difficult decision to make - especially since the move came exactly one year after Boston traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers.
Chaim Bloom on the Benintendi trade: I know for our fans, in the last year plus, we've traded away two homegrown. I know it's tough and painful. We're obviously doing what we think is right for the organization.
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) February 11, 2021
Benintendi, 26, is coming off a rough 2020 during which he hit .103 over 14 games and missed most of the season due to a rib cage injury.
While his power never developed, Benintendi was a reliable hitter in Boston's lineup for several seasons. He finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2017 and owns a career slash line of .273/.353/.435 with 51 home runs, 260 RBIs, and 53 stolen bases in 485 games.
Bloom still sees great things for Benintendi despite his recent struggles.
"Last year I was optimistic about Andrew, and I still am," Bloom said, according to Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. "This is about considering opportunities to better address what we need to address long-term."
Benintendi's set to earn $6.6 million in 2021 and has one year of arbitration remaining before hitting free agency after the 2022 campaign.
Even with Cordero slotting into the outfield alongside Alex Verdugo and Hunter Renfroe, Bloom hasn't ruled out the possibility of re-signing Jackie Bradley Jr.
"We remain hopeful we can find a fit with Jackie and we also understand that might not happen," Bloom said, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.
Benintendi will likely slot into left field for Kansas City, which was vacated after longtime Royals outfielder Alex Gordon retired last fall.
Cordero, 26, has played parts of four MLB seasons with the Royals and San Diego Padres. He has hit .236 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 95 games.
Lee, 22, was the Royals' third-round draft pick in 2016 and the club's No. 9 prospect at the end of last season, according to MLB Pipeline. A speed threat, Lee stole 53 bases at Double-A in 2019.