Here’s what Andrew Benintendi’s departure means for the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals traded left fielder Andrew Benintendi to the New York Yankees in a deal finalized on Wednesday night.
Benintendi had been arguably the club’s most consistent hitter throughout the season. However, he’s slated to become a free agent at the end of the season.
The writing appeared to be on the wall regarding Benintendi’s future at least as far back as spring training when he said he hadn’t had any discussions with the club about a contract extension.
While Benintendi’s departure takes away one of the lineup’s best hitters for the final two months of the season, Benintendi was likely to leave this offseason.
The Royals swapped him for a trio of players who will be under team control beyond this season, and they created more playing time for some of the players they hope will form the core for the future.
The Royals’ outfield options include Gold Glove center fielder Michael A. Taylor, versatile defender and left-handed hitter Kyle Isbel and corner infielder/outfielder Hunter Dozier, who the club committed to with a contract extension that runs through 2024 with an option for 2025.
Taylor remains the lone true everyday center fielder of the group, and he’s having one of the best offensive seasons of his career.
First base has seemingly become far less of an option for Dozier since the promotions of highly regarded prospects and rookie first basemen Vinnie Pasquantino and Nick Pratto.
There’s also a potentially dynamic offensive performer in outfielder Edward Olivares, currently on the IL, who has looked like one of the team’s best hitters this season when healthy. Olivares has missed 48 games due to a pair of quad injuries.
The outfield also provides opportunities for rookie catcher MJ Melendez to remain in the lineup, particularly if Pasquantino continues to get at-bats at designated hitter and Pratto, considered an elite defender, gets the bulk of the playing time at first base.
Using the outfield to funnel at-bats to Melendez should become more important with star catcher and team leader Salvador Perez nearing a return and currently on a rehab assignment in Syracuse, New York, just a few hours away from the big-league team. The Royals begin their series with the New York Yankees on Thursday night.
This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
