The Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals and New York Mets have agreed a deal that will send Fenway outfielder Andrew Benintendi to KC, Boston’s ninth confirmed on Wednesday.
Royal prospect Khalil Lee will go to the Mets, while outfielder Franchy Cordero will go to the Red Sox.
#RosSox today traded OF Andrew Benintendi and cash equivalents to KC Royals in exchange for the name OF Franchy Cordero and 2 players who will be named later.
In addition, the Red Sox have received minor league RHP Josh Winckowski and a player who will later be named from the New York Mets.
– Red Sox (@RedSox) February 11, 2021
Right-back Josh Winckowski and a player to be named will move from the Mets to the Red Sox.
Benintendi, once part of the Red Sox ‘s famous outfield core, missed most of the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic, making it to the disabled list on Aug. 12 because of a rib cage strain. Boston then ruled him out for that year.
He hit just .103 homeless and an RBI in 52 appearances in 14 games.
Benintendi won a .273 career and finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year vote in 2017. He led all Red Sox players with 15 goals scored in the 2018 post-season race that ended with a World Championship. Series.
He has one more year in a two-year, $ 10 million deal reached in February 2020 before being eligible for arbitration in 2022 and free agent in 2023.
Lee, in turn, was selected by the Royals in the third round in 2016 and was named Baseball America Rookie All-Star. He reached the Double A in 2018 and 2019 and played in the Puerto Rico Winter League for the past two years. He hits 0.256 in the minor leagues, with 37 rounds at home and 192 RBIs in 1,719 plate appearances.
Cordero was limited to just 16 games in 2020 due to injuries, hitting .211 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 38 plate appearances.