This morning, the New York Yankees acquired outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals for three minor league pitchers. Benintendi went 0 for 4 in his Yankees debut against his former team. However, the Yankees prevailed 1-0 on a walk off HR by Aaron Judge.
Benintendi, 28, was selected to his first All-Star Team this season. Although his power numbers are down (3 HR 39 RBI) he enters tonight with a .320 batting average good enough for third in the AL behind only former Boston Red Sox teammate Rafael Devers and Luis Arraez of the Minnesota Twins. A first round draft pick of the Red Sox in 2015, he made his MLB debut the following season, finishing runner up to Aaron Judge for AL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2017 and remained with the club through 2020 earning a World Series ring in 2018. The Red Sox dealt Benintendi to the Royals in a three way trade with the New York Mets prior to last season. He is a free agent after this season.
However long Benintendi is in pinstripes, his arrival renders the much maligned Joey Gallo expendable and likely to be traded by the August 2nd deadline. The one thing Benintendi has working against him is his refusal to get vaccinated and was among 10 Royals who skipped a recent road trip to Toronto. The Yankees are due to play in Toronto in late September and could face them in the post-season. Benintendi has indicated he is "open-minded" about getting vaccinated but I'll believe it when I see it.
From where I sit, Andrew Benintendi is one of too many baseball players and professional athletes who have a $10 million body and a 10 cent head.
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