Free agent outfielder Andrew Benintendi and the Chicago White Sox have come to terms on a 5yr/$75M contract.
The 28 year split time between Kansas City and New York last year, hitting .304 with 51RBIs. Despite his propensity for weak contact, his 5HRs in 2022 were the lowest total of his MLB career over a full season, Benintendi was able to secure a massive contract that pays him like one of the premier sluggers in the game.
To his credit, Benintendi was a 3-WAR player last season, however a 5 year commitment all but assumes he will maintain his high walk & BABIP rate for the duration of his contract. The former gold glove winner is also coming off a wrist injury which caused him to miss the entirety of the postseason with the Yankees.
With the signing, the former World Series champion is likely to assume the starting left fielder spot in Chicago’s lineup, while Andrew Vaughn will presumably slide over to the vacancy left at 1st base following Jose Abreu’s departure this offseason.
In essence, the White Sox swapped out Abreu for Benintendi, which on paper likely makes them slightly worse off than they were in 2022 when they went 81-81 and finished 11 games back of the division leading Guardians.
Chicago was ravaged by injuries last year, as Eloy Jimenez was limited to just 84 games, Luis Robert only suited up for 98, and ace Lucas Giolito saw his ERA balloon to an unseemly 4.90.
On the positive side, Benintendi will be reunited with Pedro Grifol who took over manager duties for the Sox following Tony La Russa’s departure. Grifol and Benintendi got acquainted during their time in Kansas City, so there should be a degree of familiarity between the skipper and the club’s newest addition.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: Arturo Pardavila III. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.