The Royals have announced a three-team deal to acquire outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Red Sox. Outfielder Franchy Cordero is part of the return going to Boston, along with righty Josh Winckowski, who’ll come from the Mets. The Boston org also receives three players to be named later, two from Kansas City and one from New York. On their end, the Mets will add K.C. outfield prospect Khalil Lee.
Benintendi is under team control through the 2022 season. He’ll earn $6.6MM for the upcoming campaign under a two-year arbitration agreement he made previously with the Sox. The Sox will pick up $2.8MM of the tab on Benintendi’s 2021 salary.
There’s no doubting Benintendi’s talent. He has largely produced above-average offensive numbers while delivering well-rated, versatile glovework across the outfield. Benintendi shone in particular in 2018, when he ran a .290/.366/.465 slash line with 16 home runs and 21 stolen bases over 661 plate appearances.
Unfortunately, Benintendi’s output has drooped a bit since that time. He was merely an average offensive performer in 2019, though his batted-ball figures (.330 wOBA vs. .348 xwOBA) suggested some poor fortune. And he struggled mightily in brief action last year, with a forgettable 14-game effort halted by what turned out to be a season-ending rib injury.
The Royals obviously believe a well-rested Benintendi can return to form. To reach his previous levels, the former sixth-overall pick will both need to rediscover his acumen at the plate and rebound from a multi-year decline in foot speed.
For the rights to Benintendi, the Royals will part with a package of potentially interesting but unestablished players. Cordero is 26 years of age, like Benintendi, but has only taken 315 MLB plate appearances over the past four seasons. Despite immense potential, he has been thwarted to this point by injuries and has yet to fully test himself at the game’s highest level.
The Sox will give Cordero a chance to find his footing in the bigs, though even if he’s successful he’ll only come with one more season of control than Benintendi. They’ll otherwise look solely to the future in this deal. Winckowski, whom the Mets acquired earlier in the offseason, has yet to crack the upper minors. He’s considered a potential back-of-the-rotation arm. It remains to be seen what names will be available in the PTBNL selection pool, but the Red Sox will have three chances to choose far-away young talent after getting a fresh look over the coming months.
For the Mets, it’s rather a straightforward situation. The club obviously preferred the future of Lee to that of Winckowski (and whatever PTBNL ends up moving in the deal). In addition to filling a void in the team’s prospect pool, Lee has some serious potential upside. He’s a certified burner, having swiped 53 bags at Double-A in 2019, but still has some developing to do as a hitter.
MLB.com’s Jon Morosi (via Twitter) first reported a deal was in the works. Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweeted an agreement was in place. Further details were reported by Robert Murray of FanSided (Twitter link), Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Heyman (Twitter link), Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (in a tweet), MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (on Twitter), Chad Jennings of The Athletic (in a tweet), and Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
?????? Need some info
That’s what the “more to come …” part means dude
mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/quick-hits-nationals-sc…
Smart guy in the comments asks if Royals would be interested in Benintendi?
Lol! You work for the Royals?
Na, just a fan who pays attention to baseball and tries to understand what gms are doing. It’s a lot easier to figure baseball out that way instead of spouting nonsense like collusion and yelling fleeced every time some highly overpaid player is traded away for nothing but salary relief.
Why the royals?
It’s pretty sad you have to be such a condescending d!*khead on the internet all the time and proclaim yourself the all knowing king of everything cuz you called a move by sheer dumb luck. Come to think of it, you act like that all the time anyways. I’d hate to work with you or be your spouse or family member smh…
As for the baseball side of things, I guess the Royals and GMDM are kicking things into gear and trying to move up to at least second place in the weak AL central, if not this year then next (banking on Benintendi being actually good).
Iverbure – “ instead of spouting nonsense like collusion and yelling fleeced every time some highly overpaid player is traded away for nothing but salary relief.”
Agreed! I rarely read the comments on MLBTR anymore as the average IQ is even below Sleepy Joe’s.
Delusional a bit to think the Royals can get up to second place.
A lot of people get speculations correct but aren’t so insecure that they need to point it out. Pretty sad, man. Given how often you get things wrong and do post nonsense, though, and are called out for it, I am not surprised that you felt the need to to pat yourself on the back, publicly), for getting one minor prediction right.
Ironically, that is exactly what iverbure usually does…spout nonsense.
Who cares
Yea was gonna say someone called this in here or in a chat like last week. I rennet thinking at the time that makes a lot of sense. Good on u mate! Lol, well played
Iverbure reminds me of a certain someone whose name began with an X. When the cubs signed Yu Darvish, this X guy was pretty close to correct on the years and cash… and didn’t shut up about it for 3 months.
Xabial. I remember that. Guy was awful. But yeah, he was pretty spot on with the prediction.
Submit it in your application to MENSA, because none of us care
And that’s why you replied. Because you don’t care. Realistically they should ban anyone who has less than 12 right on the prediction contest. Obviously those people don’t know anything about baseball and are just clogging up this site with their nonsense. I’d be embarrassed and delete my account if I had less than 12.
I’m glad you finally had something go right in your life. I’m proud of you.
Rent free in your head.
Whew!! I have 13 right.
In not sure this argument holds any water since the people who run the site can barely get those predictions right at a 15% clip.
Imagine if you put this much effort into something like, I don’t know, education or a career?
take your argument somewhere else guys. We don’t care
Literally, more than 97% of the 4,268 entries have gotten less than 12 correct. Including 5 of the 6 MLBTR staff.
The biggest spouting of nonsense I’ve heard in a longtime is the suggestion that correctly predicting a dozen free agent signings somehow correlates to whether someone “knows anything about baseball.” What a maroon.
Come upstairs all of you!
I’m tired of the fighting. Have some cookies.
Mom.
I purposely go bonkers with my picks, figuring if the offseason is insane, I’ll look like a genius. In reality, I just look like a moron, like usual.
Someone mocking you for your awful attitude and then going about their day and never thinking about you does not mean you live ‘rent free in [their] head’.
But imagine if they did. You’d be so obnoxious that a total stranger is spending time thinking about you. Not exactly something to brag about there, bud.
There’s no way you are a real person lol.
@iverbure. I don’t know if I have ever seen a poster manage to alienate themselves from the rest of the commenters as fast as you did. All well. You at least have yourself to love and appreciate you. =))
iverbure, just K.Y.S. please.
I hope you get less than 12 right then.
You need to dig up a post you made however long ago and gloat. How obnoxious are you? Like seriously…
If you had just said “I called this in an earlier post”, it would not have been so bad. But you had to do all of that work, unless you have like a file with predictions next to article links in a word doc or something, which would actually be worse.
Idk man, I think you’re sus af.
Out of how many? I have a feeling you’re the type that throws a lot of S at the wall to see if it sticks, then brags like you should get an award when you’re right.
Not Ban from the site just from typing a comment.
“The Royals are finalized a deal that to acquire outfielder Andrew Benintendi”
Does this line make grammatically make sense?
wasnt finalized at the time
Does “Does this line make grammatically make sense?” grammatically make sense?
Lol
Sarcasm…you missed it.
My bad
In all honesty, the best sarcasm is the one where people don’t get it right away.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Rumor has it Witt and Lacy going back…..
Not happening.
Royal fans are going to hate you.
🙂
Ohh hell no
They’re adding in Singer and Kowar too, or so I’ve heard
The rumor that some BoSox fanboy made up? Zero chance the Royals are dealing Witt.
Well 3 team deal with the Mets . Rumor has it Lindor going to the Royals too.
@gozurman1. Trolling isn’t always bad. I got a chuckle out of this. Hell, even after your smiley face gave it away, you still managed to reel in some fish. =D
Oh for f#(&$ sake
Honestly IF Franchy is healthy, and that is one big if that probably won’t happen, the Red Sox will easily win this deal
That’s a HUGE if up to this point – but wouldn’t it be great to see him for a full season. Some of the bombs he hit with San Diego were beastly – big time power
i suspect Chavis is going along with him. Just a hunch
Keller?
Merrifield coming back…lol. two years ago maybe.
Please be Royals, please be Royals!!!
Noooooooooo. Was there wrong with Beni in the clubhouse, not coming from ownership cuz they lie!
What?
told yall it would be KC
Go pick up your medal… Its about time u got something right… lolol
lol facts
Hopefully it’s to a contender.
Huh? Beni to the Royals doesn’t make sense to me.
Dayton’s been wanting a LH bat all off-season. Makes plenty of sense. Our lineup is sneaky good and Benentendi helps that even more. Bullpen has a chance to be dominant and Lynch/Kowar/Lacy/ will be joining Bubic and Singer in KC soon.
I understand that KC could use a LH bat, but it seems to me like they already have plenty of outfielders. I thought the Marlins would get him.
The Royals were thin at OF even before this trade. Cordero was an unproven starter, Michael Taylor hasn’t played well, and Edward Olivares has 100 AB’s in his career. .. Khalil Lee, Nick Heath, and Kyle Isbel were young guys that may have an outside shot at making the team. You add Benintendi and lose Cordero/Lee; the Royals were looking at the possibility of playing both Whit and Dozier in the infield but looks like one or even both will have to play in the outfield unless they get another outfield bat along with Benintendi.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Bubic goes to Boston as one of the PTBNL.
Guys call it off, dan55 doesn’t get it. Everyone go home.
Now that Franchy is going to Boston it makes more sense. That clears up the OF a little bit. Good job for KC.
With a name like Franchy it has to be good.
NC needs a CF. likely want to extend him and tey and steal a WC spot this year. that team is sneaky good.
KC needs a CONTROLLABLE CF. Not one that can leave in 2 years.
Seems like he’ll slide in for Alex Gordon. Pretty straightforward.
With their additions, Perez back as catcher, and the abundant pitching upside, KC is looking kinda interesting these days.
why are they selling low on this kid?!
I think Bloom became very concerned with literally all of Bennie’s metrics trending downward the past 2 years. Dick Wagner (CIN) always preached it’s better to trade a player too soon than too late. Even without knowing the return, I think BOS did the right thing here.
He did trade him a year too late. Forget his 2020 injury, the package pre-pandemic would have been far greater. That said, this is a Tampa type trade that in a couple of years Sox fans might be cheering about. Separately, hoping its win-win and Benny rebounds. Nothing not to like about him. I just felt for over a year it was time to move on. His salary had become too much for what I projected as his return.
IF AB is healthy, a change of scenery might be just what he needs. Middle of the country kid going to a middle of the country club. I wish him the best.
Because this is as high as he’s going to get. Get out now while you can.
I’m still wondering what Mets are giving up to get kcs 8th best prospect. Franchy isn’t enough to get Benny so I’m assuming Mets are sending prospect to Red Sox along with Cordero
would’ve been nice to make the move before Ozuna re-signed
Why?
who do you expect to play LF JD Martinez?
You don’t want Ozuna in left field, right field, or center field. Especially not in the championship series, you’d have 2 DH with Ozuna and JD
Ozina is fine in the outfield he’s pretty avg
Left field in Fenway is the size of a postage stamp. It can’t be that difficult. Although I’d want lots of practice off the wall.
Not only the Monster but also the side wall with zero foul territory, the doorway and the angle that the shortstop has to cover while you go to the corner.
Some of us still remember the Hanley disaster out there.
And the Swihart disaster as well.
The Red Sox were never going to sign Ozuna and definitely not for $86 million
Wow. I’m glad the Braves didn’t sign him for $86 million too. =D
Ozuna isn’t as bad a defender as many posters say. For example, he has never posted less than 1 DRS. While he did post a -0.9 UZR, he has never posted so low before. Given that last season was shortened, I’m not going to make to much of that.
My bad. $64 million. The Red Sox still weren’t going to go that high. Maybe next year but not now
Wasn’t a Benintendi deal going to be “done by the weekend” about a month ago?
Yep, good memory pjmcnu
Lol who cares
you cared enough to comment…
I don’t comment much but so many angry people on here. Good for you man for getting it right. As a fan that is part of the fun. Lots of smart people on here too, I wish the comments were more about debating baseball instead of tearing each other down. Make good choices people 😉
Didn’t say which weekend
Makes me think another move is coming for a right handed outfield bat. Maybe just Pillar. Expecting no one coming back for 21. Sounds like a futures and money off the books now deal.
Move Devers to LF, sign Turner.
Have you list your mind WereAll?
Pasha your obsession with Brock Holt says you might want to walk back your comment. And quick.
No thank you to both. Devers has improved defensively in each season and will continue to get better. Turner is at the end of the line and can’t accept that no one wants a 36 year old 3B for four years.
Sorry. but after his first year, Devers could only improve in 19 and while last year was short, he again looked mostly lost. He will have to improve or if he rains in Boston long term, he should be the DH after JDM.
“Devers has improved defensively in each season and will continue to get better. ”
You don’t watch Red Sox baseball much. Devers is a complete mess.
If he shows up in shape, he will benefit from Cora riding his butt. Stay tuned.
Cora can ride him to the oceanside. It won’t matter. Looking forward to the Jays RH bats torching balls down 3B and exposing him.
In what world does that make any sense for the Redsox? Put them over the tax again?
The world you live in doesn’t make much sense Iver. Winning is something you know nothing about. You have admitted it over and over again with your “never spend money” diatribe that does not work nor does not fly.
Nebraska is looking for another fight. Go find him. Can’t wait for Lou Braille v. Helen Keller II.
iverbure8 hours ago
In what world does that make any sense for the Redsox? Put them over the tax again?
====================================================
Just for fun, explain how getting rid of salary will put us over the tax again?
Cardinals would be great, thanks.
Pitching?
look at those Royals…aiming for 75 wins
One more 90 loss season wouldn’t be the worst for their future but at some point they need to make incremental steps forward. Win 75 this year, add a few top prospects, and who knows maybe they pass Cleveland and Minnesota in 2022.
They have a pretty solid chance at passing Cleveland this year. The Royals have improved a bunch, and Cleveland took a step back losing Santana and Lindor. I see the 2 teams as probably pretty even right now.
every team in the central is mortal and I think the 2nd wild card spot is the Central’s 2nd place finisher’s to lose. (and if the Yankees pitching doesnt hold up the central’s 3rd team might even be in)
Lindor wasn’t even great last year and the Indians were still on pace to finish 25 games ahead of the Royals over a full season. The Royals haven’t done nearly enough to fully close that gap even with Cleveland taking a step back.
They didn’t hoist the trophy that long ago
Pretty impressive move as long as it doesn’t cost KC an arm and a leg (or two top arms).
KC can dip their Tendies in Franchy Dressing
Update: The Tendies will in fact be separated from the Franchy Dressing. Life goes on I suppose.
Underrated comment. Thanks for the laugh.
*sadness noises*
Gross.
We’ll see what the return is, but I don’t think trading him after a down year was the best move
Obviously depends on the players going to Boston but I love this deal for the Royal. Obviously coming off a down year but he’s still young and has had productive season in the majors. Definitely better than any of our current left field options. If there’s a starter or a high end prospect going back, I might change my mind but if it’s a B prospect or two I’m all in.
What…? The Red Sox selling low on a bounce-back candidate with All-Star potential?
I don’t get it. I don’t understand this move whatsoever if it doesn’t bring back a huge arm.
I was thinking similar. A ROY runner up and future all-star to “traded for Franchy Cordero” in the matter of 3 years.
We need to see the final deal but the OF mentioned hit a mighty .211 last year and the pitcher mentioned was a 15th pick of the Blue Jays a few years back. Looks like another salary dump by the Red Sox to me. Go back to Tampa Bloom !!!
It doesn’t remove enough money to be a salary dump. It’s most probable that Boston feels Benintendi is toast and wanted to get something for him before he went the Swihart route and lost all value.
Not sure Benny will become another BS (seems to fit with the overhype), but Sox fans need to be patient and wait before evaluating this deal. While Benny could have been a rebounding piece to either sell for more in July or to help steal a 2013 type championship, this deal creates a little savings that can put into another player that also could help either of the aforementioned, neither of which is likely.
How was Benni going to bring back a huge arm?
Chavis came up as a third baseman so he makes sense for NY, am i on to something or crazy?
im dubm
Whoa! That came out of left field…
Funny , do to recent events. Not surprised to see the “not yet a done deal”
If it is a 3 way trade and the sox traded benintendi to the royals, then wouldn’t it make sense to speculate the sox return is from the mets?
Mets involved. Red Sox getting deGrom. Tee hee.
Just deGrom? C’mon, gotta be more than just that.
I think this basically guarantees that Nicky Lopez won’t be the starting 2B. Outfield getting too crowded to have Whit on the grass, too.
I wish but the outfield really isn’t crowded. Benetendi is the only legit starter they have if you believe the Royals are wanting to play Dozier at 3B this year. Michael Taylor isn’t very good but will probably start in CF, so there is a good chance Whit starts in RF this year leaving Lopez to start at second.
There are other scenarios where Hanser Alberto starts at 2nd or Alberto/Gutierrez starts at 3B with Dozier in RF and Whit at 2nd. Whit and Dozier could also play CF and RF with Lopez at 2B and Alberto/Gutierrez at 3B. We would need at least one more OF bat for me to be confident about Lopez not starting.
Because this is as high as he’s going to get. Get out now while you can.
Passan and Heyman saying Franchy Cordero to Boston, Benintendi and cash (from Mets) to KC, and Khalil Lee to Mets
Mets are 3rd wheeling another trade lol
Who the F**K is Franchy Cordero? Boston is an embarrassment right now.
Dude is a beast.
He was a prospect on the Padres for awhile. He is extremely athletic, and is the type of player who can hit 40 homers a year while playing center. However, he stays as healthy as Giancarlo Stanton, so it remains to be seen if he can play well for a full season.
Cordero will not hit 40 home runs in his entire baseball career
Chaim Bloom will be fired in September of 2022
Like I said, Cordero’s only problem is that he can’t stay healthy. IF he was able to stay healthy over the course of a full season, he is definitely talented enough to hit 40 bombs.
Power/Speed guy – other players will be involved as well. Also, JBJ is likely coming back now as well.
John i don’t think so. Bradley’s 31 and wants a 4 year deal at this stage. Sox are kind of going younger and have guys in the pipeline to play center next year or the year after. Bradley is adios amigos.
They only say they’re keeping tabs on him if he’ll take a one-year deal to patrol center before our young guys are ready to take over. I think a team that’s in the middle of the pack or better will give Jackie 3 years. It won’t be the Sox.
If Cordero could ever stay healthy he’ll be a huge contributor in the AL East with all those tiny parks. All the talent in the world just hasn’t been able to stay on the field long enough to show it.
really raw. very fast in the grass but poor routes limit his range. he can hit 450′ shots but struggles to make contact with k rates near 40%. incredible poor and speed to dream on but so raw still and if he continues to struggle staying on the field he’ll be out of chances very soon.
This dude rakes and hits bombs!
Billy C. passes away, Andrew B. gets traded…..not fun being Italian in Boston anymore…..
RIP BC!
Tony C!
Khalil Lee to the Mets? That is who the Sox should have gotten back in this deal…
I am not understanding this trade. 2 K.C prospects heading out for a major league outfielder with no upside? I am totally lost on this move.
There are more parts in this deal – just not announced yet. Also, cash exchanging hands.
Sounds like my last relationship unfortunately
Don’t feel bad. I married her.
lol
I don’t know how you can say Benimtendi has no upside, he’s 26 and has three above average major league seasons under his belt including one very very good season. Last year was rough but it’s 14 games and he was playing through a rib cage injury.
Isn’t league average right around 2 fWAR? If so, 2 of those 3 seasons were exactly league average… One of them was really good though.
Average isn’t above average…
He’s only got 2 years left and is coming off 2 bad years. Depending on what Boston’s getting from NYM, they might have done pretty well given what value he has.
I was going off OPS+ with 100 being average. His career triple slash is .273/.345/.435 he’s basically Alex Gordon. Doubles power, lots of walks, a few Ks, a little speed (more stolen bases than Alex) and good defense (under Rusty Kuntz could become an elite left fielder).
If royals were in NL central- they’d be favorites to win division
No
I don’t get it, all they got back was Cordero? Trying to figure out this new regime, I just don’t get some of the moves they’re making
It’s hard to get when all the details have not been announced yet. Chill B
Dominic Smith to Boston.
Boston didn’t seem to get much in return….. What was this all about….
Dunno what’s going from NYM to Boston.
Betances or Familia or Ali Sanchez or Corey Oswalt. Salary dumps or second class prospects.
Salary dump
Like all of Bloom’s deals so far but he is simply following orders from John ” i’m so cheap I look OVER the top of my glasses to keep em from wearing out” Henry !!!
The RS might be #2 in payroll this year, but continue with the ‘Henry is cheap’ idiocy.
Are the Royals a WC contender now? This is a great move for them. BTW, what is NY giving up?
Not likely. You have Toronto, tampa, and Minnesota to deal with.
Implying that Yankees win the East and Minnesota doesn’t win the Central?
WINCKOWSKI WELCOME BACK TO THE AL EAST
Boston better be getting something nice from the NYM. Khalil Lee is a much much better prospect than Franchy Cordero. Cordero is an all-or-nothing swinger who doesn’t hit very many dingers for all his monster power, and is a poor defender who plays corner OF. Lee is a young (and very small and fast) on-base machine who’s a great defender. He’s a fantastic get for a very CF-needy team in the Mets.
Lee has a massive hole in his swing and is actually too patient early in counts. Could end up being really good but just as likely a 4th outfielder.
Didn’t know that. Still better than Franchy.
Did GMDM sour on Lee that quickly??
No September call up on 2019 and no major league action in 2020 tells you all you need to know. This does not surprise me at all.
Free up over 6 million to resign JBJ.
Are they extending him? I don’t see them winning anything in the next 2 years.
Definitely possible, but especially if we still have expanded playoffs we could actually contend this year.
Cohen made a huge maneuver. Sox sold low. Royals shouldnt have had to give that much given the Sox were selling low.
It’s all about money… The RS are doing an old style salary dump here
Not really that much and Benintendi is miles away better than any alternative we might have run out in LF this season.
new players in the deal now, but giving up Lee+ for him when it should be a buy low? I dunno. (that said, I mistook Franchy for Oliveras, so its not as much an overpay now imo)
Only with his glove. His bat sucks
I disagree. Cheap guys will end up on the market one way or another
DarkSide83011 hours ago
Cohen made a huge maneuver. Sox sold low. Royals shouldnt have had to give that much given the Sox were selling low.
==============================================================
I’m not sure how the RS sold low, but KC gave up too much.
I’m totally fine with Lee and Cordero for Benitendi. The fact that Lee hasn’t gotten a call up has made me suspicious for awhile that management didn’t think he was gonna be a big player.
Well he’s certainly not “big”.
Is Lee not going to the Mets?
I agree, have no issues giving up on Lee. Nick Heath is 5 years older but is the same player with better production. Benintendi will enjoy the change of scenery.
We all are waiting for the Erick Pena unleashing in a couple years. He is going to be a stud.
Lee the Royals #8 prospect according to MLB.com, who gave him a 50 grade
Winckowski the Mets #26 prospect according to MLB.com, who gave him a 40 grade
Yeah mlb.com sucks for prospects though. Lee a 45 at most, not even 45+
Lee is pretty well regarded, no? Only 8th given the Royals have some serious arms.
Fangraphs has him as a 45 late last season. #8 Royals prospect, sure, the Royals have some quality but there are a lot of holes with Lee at the plate. Still could be a quality guy, but he’s probably in the 150-175 range for prospects.
This seems like a meh return for Boston so far. Hopefully for their sake, they get a bit more.
J D. Davis? Before Mets sign Turner?
No way.
It’s gotta be someone good, if the Mets are getting a 50 grade prospect in the deal, so far Benintendi has only gotten a 40 grader and Franchy.
Bloom is holding out for Tebow.
Something isn’t adding up. We didn’t give up much (so far) for a prospect that would be like 5-6 for us.
Yeah curious. So far, most value in deal is probably Lee.
The Mets have 5 50 grade prospects, Lee would make it 6. He’s in their top 4-9 prospects now, depending on how you view him compared to the other 50 grades. Those don’t come cheap and I think someone big from the Mets MLB roster is going to either KC or BOS.
No player from Mets MLB roster is going. Multiple beat reporter have said it. That’s why I was confused.
Or there’s a valuation disconnect between MLB.com’s trash ratings outside of the top 100 and what GM’s think…..
Kinda like when people blew up on the Rays for trading Nick Solak for Pete Fairbanks. Fairbanks has been pretty valuable for TB.
If you’re a GM and you think Lee doesn’t ever hit—then what are you trading? A 4th OF type w/ bench speed. There’s serious holes in Lee’s swing. He has a major league floor bc of the defense and speed but there’s a strong chance he’s no more than Keon Broxton.
Sox gonna do OK here. Report that five guys (including one PTBNL) going their way. Benitendi wasn’t worth that much.
Mets are sending a PTBNL along with Winckowski, not Lee. The Mets are acquiring Lee.
This seems like complete trash for the Red Sox unless the PTBNL is someone big. Also don’t understand how the Mets give up a bottom top 30 guy and get a much better prospect from a much better farm system?
There’s apparently more. Five players going to Boston.
They prob are sending money. I hope that is it w. a meh PTBNL, as moving JD or similar would be bad.
reporting 100
I’m fine with this as a Mets fan, but what a weird trade.
Market Mariners should have gotten him. They need a lefty bat and a fill in for the OF until the studs come up. Could have traded him for more if he turned it around by the deadline or kept him if injuries came about.
Lee is apparently a bit of a project as a hitter (at least based on the scouting reports I’ve read) but he’s still a great get for the Mets given how embarrassing their prospect depth is at AAA and AA. The Matz deal looks even better for them now.
Lee’s floor is fourth outfielder. Speed and defensive versatility basically insure he’ll make a living playing baseball. He’s gotta be more aggressive early in counts, takes a lot of early strikes and gets himself behind in the count. Lots and lots of swing and miss. If he adjusts his approach at the plate he’s got power potential to be an above average major league outfielder.
that they got Lee+ effectively for Matz makes that deal even more absurd.
Lets wait to see the whole deal, but yes. Fire Atkins and his obsession with overpaying for average swingmen.
I always thought you GO AFTER a 26yo solid defender who can easily go 275/320/375 over the last three years of his team control. Benny deserves another chance to prove himself.
Bad trade.
swanhenge11 hours ago
I always thought you GO AFTER a 26yo solid defender who can easily go 275/320/375 over the last three years of his team control.
=============================================================
1-It is only two years of control.
2-When did .275/.320/.375 become something good?
A .700 OPS for a corner outfielder is absolutely terrible. For a CF w/ great defense it’s still nothing to marvel at. Not sure Benny is going to provide great defense either.
It’s right in line for $6m/yr. And if JBJ put up that slash, he’d have already signed for 3/50.
Not quite. That’s the same OPS that Matt Joyce has averaged over the last three years and he had to settle for a minor league deal. JBJ is also a center fielder, and a good one at that. Benny is not
I’m just registering my displeasure with a trade that hasn’t been officially announced concerning players we don’t know about yet. How dare these teams agree to such a deal! It’s garbage!
That’s a RS ‘fan’ specialty. I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard RS ‘fans’ criticizing trades involving a PTBNL. Same with low-level Asian signings. Whether it is a signing, or passing on someone, some of these ‘fans’ will be critical, despite the fact they had never heard of the guy before.
Maybe somehow some way the Royals or Mets can acquire that little spark plug Brock Holt and he’ll be a PTBNL. Then it’s playoffs here we come!
From the original post: “There’s no doubting Benintendi’s talent.”
I disagree. There has been a large disconnect between Benintendi’s. perceived talent (MLB’s #1 prospect four years ago) and his performance. This trade happened BECAUSE there is a doubt about Benintendi’s talent.
that would be like saying the Cubs dealt Torres because they doubted him. they dealt him because they believed he being around at some point in the near future didnt outweigh the benefit provided by winning a WS. if the Sox got, say, Lacy and Singer for Beni (not gonna happen, obviously) they could still have great faith in him and make the move.
That’s a pretty terrible analogy. Torres hadn’t even played in the majors yet and was traded as a win now move. Beni has been around for multiple years and was traded for meh return on a team that absolutely could have run him out there, had they believed he was going to rebound, if for no other reason than to get more when they trade him later.
Change of scenery might do benintendi good.
There are indeed “moving pieces” to the deal. I just had a movement waiting for the details.
Franchy is giving me Wily Mo Pena feelings. That’s… not good.
Franchy is an analytical dream and a coach’s nightmare. hits the ball hard and runs hard but those numbers dont translate and he cant stay healthy regardless.
Dark side what doesn’t translate? He hasn’t had enough major league at bats to say anything about him. He’s been league average at the plate over 400 abs spaced across 4 seasons.
That tells you exactly nothing about Franchy other than he hasn’t had consistent opportunities and he’s dealt w injuries.
I was thinking the same thing. I liked Wily MO though. Fun guy to watch
anyone named Franchy has got to be good…
FIRE I mean FIRE CHAIM BLOOM now!!!! Bought no name $10M pitcher, got Squeaky Kike 0.240 AVG, Japanese retread, garbage pitcher Andriese pleaseeeeee, Rule 5 pick from Yankees, $8M for Adam O saving the Yankees from tax ceiling – take Brian O”Halloran with ya. I saw the garbage they are getting from the Royals – Level A pitcher and a crappy outfielder – what other garbage is DOOM BLOOM going to pick up
You are like all of the Jon Daniels haters in Texas…except for the fact that it took y’all a year to hate Bloom. Be patient my guy; I bet he will win you over in the long haul.
Too many fans want to win now even when that’s not realistic. They can’t stand the good-natured ribbing at work when their team is losing. We probably all remember that dumb kid who stayed home from school the day after his team lost the World Series. Like me in 1974 when the Dodgers lost to the A’s. It was bad enough being the lone kid in my class from disgraced President Nixon’s hometown. Losing the WS in five games was yet another reason to be made fun of. Especially when I bragged all season about my team’s dominance. I was Metsfanb22 in the dreadful era of plaid sports jackets and “Seasons in the Sun.”
Huh – Hunter Renfroe – plssssss- 0.228 AVG, traded Mookie last year: once in a generation player, came in last place behind the Orioles, threw out retread no-name pitchers last year, drafted a 2nd round pick in the first round to go cheap to buy a 3rd rounder for more $, Sale out until mid year, uncertainty with E-ROD and always on the IL Nate Eovaldi. Brought back Martin Perez – ugh.
The only trade I liked was Embree/Workman to Philly. Bloom is gone cheap, clearing the books of long term commitments because if this year’s trash doesn’t work, then he can bring in new trash next year
Bloom was instructed to trade Betts and got a good return. Red Sox fans would love to have Andrew Friedman and Bloom is cut from a similar mold. He inherited a bit of a mess whether the team’s fans want to admit it or not. Every year is not a year to pursue a championship. Red Sox fans should know that better than anyone. Following a baseball team is all about being patient and having realistic expectations. Bloom will be fine.
Disagree. Red Sox mgmt says they want to compete for playoffs and championships every year. I get it that they are speaking out of both sides of their mouth (Sam Kennedy); however, we have the financial means and assets to dump/trade to maneuver and acquire key assets, It doesn’t mean you go cheap and bring in the trash: 2020 and 2021 (so far) or trade for the sake of trading. They dumped Benny (potential bounce back candidate) for 2 pieces of garbage, 3 PTBNL (garbage – whoever has amounted to anything as the PTBNL) and are paying $2.8M of Benny’s contract.
What they are doing here is 1. Deliberately not competing by bringing in short term contracts 2. Riding out long term contracts to get them off the payroll all for the sake that Bloom will have his team in 2023.
This team battles the Orioles this year for the Ultimate Battle of Loser Supremacy.
Jury still out on Jeter Downs and Connor Wong
Why all the negativity? Is your life really that miserable? The Red Sox are trying to build a championship-caliber roster, which is not something they can realistically have in 2021 and perhaps not in 2022. You’re typical of many fans who want to win now because you think it reflects on you as a person. It doesn’t. There’s more I can say. But judging by your reliance on words like trash, dump, garbage, and loser, I’m guessing you are relatively young and wouldn’t understand. Now finish your homework and go to bed.
Your beloved Brock holy was a ptbnl. Also, money doesn’t buy you playoff berths, especially when your organization has no prospect depth or skill whatsoever. You idiots thought Michael Chavis was an all star after his first month of play
They let you on the computer after the 5:30 PM bedtime curfew at the retirement home. You rebel! It is shameful with ALL of your years of infinite knowledge that all you can come up with is your incoherent drivel..
PS – I never called anyone a loser, but if the name fits, you are more than welcome to wear that badge of honor.
soxshortstop10 hours ago
Huh – Hunter Renfroe – plssssss- 0.228 AVG,
===================================================
You probably forgot that HRs count, didn’t you?
Nope did you forget about his 0.290 OBP (0.289 in 2019 and 0.252 in 2020) and 154 Ks in 2019
Nah… I don’t think you are correct as Brock was not a PTBNL…Research before you post.
mlbtraderumors.com/2012/12/red-sox-acquire-joel-ha….
What all these RS fan are failing to realize is that you can’t buy a good major league team. You need to have homegrown talent and the RS had exactly none of that when Bloom took over. There was nothing in the farm system to use as trade chips or to supplement the big league roster.
If you believe this RS team is a serious contender w/ just Mookie on it—you’re out of your mind crazy.
They’d have to sign Mookie for 300 million. Then spend another 100 on other players to supplement the team. The bullpen is atrocious. The rotation is Swiss cheese. At some point you have to face reality. The team had too many flaws.
Red Sox mgmt has to say they are competing, but we don’t have to buy it.
It’s pretty clear 2021 and probably 2022 are tear-down, rebuild seasons
Bloom is the designated hatchet man. same thing happening with Giants and Farhan Zaidi. Giants mgmt know they can’t say the r-word within earshot of their delusional fanbase so they fake-play at free agency and slash payroll…
Mookie turned down 300 million. That’s why he went bye bye.
True enough. Chances were good that Mookie Betts was not returning to Boston had they kept him through his free agent walk year. That said, the Red Sox had every opportunity to replace his bat this offseason while adding an accomplished CF who bleeds Sox red in George Springer. The former Astro and die-hard Red Sox fan could also have been had for less than half of the dollars that Betts wound up signing in his contract extension with the Dodgers. Shame on the Red Sox for passing on such a great opportunity.
Mookie wanted out not for money so the $300M which was below market WAS NOT why he left. Nobody wants to say it but racism and the long historic internal issue of diversity created his desire to leave. The Dodgers made a fair market value offer and he took it without free agency. Why? It was never about Free Agency in Boston it was about the issues at the top with diversity. Is it a surprise their top 2 black players were moved for below market value? Nope.
Mookie wanted out because of ownership and the way he and others were treated. What a horrible way to lose a generational player. Pure ignorance. Then the fools hire a black female coach to make up for it and prove they don’t have issues? What a joke. What level of integrity exists in the owners to want a two time cheater back? They hired an unqualified manager for diversity purposes, he gets caught cheating and is suspended for what he did prior to Boston, then his team shuts up so a second nail isn’t put in his coffin so naturally these guys that ran Mookie and Price out of town hire the bum. It’s pathetic. It should be embarrassing to Red Sox fans to have such racially biased group of owners that completely lack integrity hiring a two time cheater.
Mookie turned down $300M because it was below market value and he absolutely hated the environment created by ownership. He’s happy in LA and we should be happy for him because he was an ideal player as a member of the Red Sox. Classy, charitable, great team mate and one of the best players in the game. What a waste to lose him, especially after all the money he made the Red Sox. At 12 years he still would have been a huge profit maker over his career.
Overreacting much?
Although I never understood the Bloom Bloomers (fanclub) for this guy b4 he ever got a job, it isn’t his job that the BoSox don’t want to spend anything. DD maxed out the black card to win in 2018. They did. Now… the price is being paid off. It is what it is.
Nope… trading for the sake of trading to supposedly restock a farm system that isn’t that bad doesn’t make sense especially with the trash he is getting back for Benny. Red Sox selling low on a bounce-back candidate.
Soxshortstop – OUTSTANDING commentary. Bloom sucks at his new job and it’s becoming clear he didn’t have much say in the decision-making in TB because they’ve been dumping players and still look to be competitive while Bloom has gutted a Championship team that might have struggled while Sale was hurt. The team was in it’s prime and had a bad luck year in 2019.
The money argument justifying the deals made is pure ignorance. First, the hundreds of millions of profits made by Boston over the last half decade, or decade or even longer should protect the fans from these type of tear downs. The ticket prices certainly suggest a tear down should never happen. The luxury tax is insignificant to owners with deep pockets, especially if they exceed the third threshold and still make huge profits. The Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox are all in that boat but now ownership has gotten greedy and clearly they offended the generational player that should have finished his career in Boston.
Firing DD was mistake because DD gets that owners want winning and if they have to dip in their profits a bit to win that should be no problem. Bloom borders on being George Halas-like. Tossing coins around as if they are man-hole covers.
Just remember, if the Red Sox have six minor league teams with 40 man rosters there are 240 minor league players in their farm system. Only a small percentage of those graduate and the Red Sox are far above the average since JBJ and Bogaerts graduated. That’s what a good farm system produces not a high ranking to brag about. Championships come from improved skills that graduate your farm system or are acquired by using your farm system and finding talent in other organizations or free agency. DD was outstanding at that, Bloom sucks.
DD trades for Sale and Bloom gives away Mookie and Price. Each one of the alleged super star minor league players he gets in a trade force out someone in the organization. Do we know for sure the new person will be better than the one no longer with the Red Sox? Nope but if a farm system rating says the Red Sox improved by the deal people are supposed to believe it. Remember, the rating services are the same guys who had Swihart at 61 and Mookie at 62 in 2014!! How’d that prediction work out? Wake up they are opinions that often come with politics behind the players being promoted by an agency or team.
Giving up on Benny, Price and especially losing Betts are all huge mistakes that deserve someone being fired or the ownership selling to more baseball savvy owners for the sake of the fans. Bloom and Cora need to go and a big time GM needs to come in with an intelligent, experienced manager.
One last point about Benny. OPS+ is a reasonable way to compare players. At 21 Benny had an OPS+ of 118, at 22 it was 103, at 23 it peaked at 123, at 24 (2019) it dropped back to 100 during a season Cora screwed up during spring training and injuries limited the success of the team. We don’t know who suggested to Benny to bulk up and be a HR hitter rather than the great contact hitter he was in college and his first two years but Cora was in charge so he should take the blame just like the way he impacted Sale after Sale had success under Farrell.
Benny was due for a bounce back at age 25 but COVID hit and he got hurt. Many, many great players had bad 2020 seasons so everyone should be throwing out the results of 2020. Benny could easily be a 120 OPS+ player in 2021. Is Frenchy going to produce those numbers? Renfroe? Heck, we don’t even know for sure Verdugo will. What if his back acts up again? Benny is entering his 26 year old season and was still under team control and making very little money for a Red Sox player (yes it might be a lot for a TB player so Bloom may think differently) and he was a fan favorite, home grown budding star who played league average in 2019 after 3 excellent seasons. Yep, toss him by the curb like Mookie and Price. Makes perfect sense.
Bloom keeps this up and he’ll have the first pick in the 2022 draft!!! I’m not sure but maybe that is his goal!!!
Seems like a brutal bad deal as of right now, 4 total guts mentioned. Why would KC make this move anyways? Kinda stink out there. Not exactly a great rebuild move
I would assume the new ownership doesn’t think it will be as long of a rebuild as others or they aren’t interested in a long rebuild.
This may be a homer take but they may look at it this way…
You have a lineup that consist of Carlos Santana, Jorge Soler, Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield, Hunter Dozier, Adalberto Mondesi(if plays to potential), and now Benintendi to have a solid lineup. You also hope that if he lives up to the hype, you may get Bobby Witt Jr around 2022.
You have a solid bullpen with a decent amount of options.
As for starting pitching. You have Brad Keller who has been pretty good, You hope for Mike Minor to return to his 2019 form and eat up innings. Duffy isn’t horrible but might not be in the rotation all year. You have Singer and Bubic who has low 4 eras in their rookie year so you are hoping they improve on that. With all that, you have Lynch and Kowar who should get a chance this year and Asa Lacy possibly next year if he pitches well..
Like I said, this is a homer take and a lot of what ifs but if the the Royals young pitchers live up to the hype, I think they have a solid enough lineup to be competitive. If they are competing early and near the trade deadline, they still have plenty of ammo especially pitching depth to grab a starter or bat if needed.
Bubic might be one of the PTBNL’s going to Boston…just a hunch I have….
That would make this a steal for the RS.
When are major leaguers included as PTBNL? Do you ever follow trades w/ PTBNL’s? If you paid any attention to how these work 99% of the time it’s a guy off the 40 man roster. It’s likely a list of players that they’ll choose from a couple months into the year. I’m sure Bubic isn’t on it.
I have seen a major league that got traded for a player to be named later only to be that player named later. At this point, its probably a fringy AAA/Major League player as roster spots is the name of the game before spring training. So that player to be named later could be a DFA guy.
If the mets upgrade the bullpen maybe a gsellman from the mets at the end of spring training. You never know.
Bubic is not DFA fodder. And yeah, there’s obviously going to be one or two outliers over the course of history but that’s not how these trades work out. Spouting out you think it’s going to be Bubic is just complete nonsense. There’s a .001 chance it’s going to be Bubic.
Nothing for nothing…
Bloom is kind of ingenious
For Mets fans who want to read up on Khalil Lee, this article followed the moist-recent Minor League season of 2109. A speedster who was making progress.
milb.com/milb/news/kris-bubic-khalil-lee-stand-ato…
Chaim Bloom can kiss my ass.
Idk, that made me laugh
A 3-team trade featuring Benintendi sound exciting, but I don’t think swapping Cordero for Benintendi will make KC appreciably better nor the BoSox worse in 2021. The left-handed bat for KC will be nice for them, and Boston is suddenly light on lefties, but it’s a fairly minor difference in production for the two teams.
And the prospects that have been named so far don’t sound like difference makers either. Lee seems like the biggest name, and he doesn’t even project to be an everyday player at this point.
Idk — I think Benintendi is quite a big step up from Cordero. His 2020 was abysmal, but it’s tough to base anything off of 39 ab’s.
My assessment may not be the same as others, not so much because I am super down on Benintendi, but because I think Cordero can still tap into his potential and be productive.
That’s fair; I feel it.
Not to say MiLB stats are everything, but Cordero’s don’t leave tons to be excited about.
For whatever reason I thought his minor league numbers were a lot stronger. He topped out at 17 homers and 23 steals.
I remember an article somewhere about him a handful of years ago that raved about how much power and speed he had haha maybe that’s it!
I believe Cordero is a lefty?
Not high on Cordero. Winckowski is a solid get. But still more players to come. We don’t know the full return yet.
Interesting that KC parted with Lee. He seemed to be a prototypical Royals player, but a decent move nonetheless.
I still like Benintendi as a player — maybe he just needs a change of scenery. Although the Royals haven’t made any “huge” splashes, they’ve had a nice offseason.
Yeah, they really worked with Lee on the speed aspect of his game with those 53 steals in 2019. Not a bad trade for them, though. Pitching, speed, and some decent bats. A few smart moves and a team can rise quickly in a Central Division. If the young pitchers make a leap, they can be a bit of a surprise.
This post is very confusing when trying to understand the Mets involvement. First, they’re not even mentioned in the title. And one piece says “The Mets are sending a player to be named later in the deal along with Lee,” but Lee is apparently coming to the Mets, so I guess it should say Winckowski instead. Hopefully it can be rewritten when everything becomes final.
“Royals Acquire” is a phrase I haven’t heard in years.
I’m missing “Resident Alien” for this???????
Royals>Cardinals
You must’ve added George Brett, Johnny Damon, Bret Saberhagen & flashback Greinke to your Royals franchise in The Show for that to be true.
It’s not out of the question. The Royals have several players the Cardinals would probably like to have. The Royals might have the better starting rotation. We’ll see how Arenado’s shoulder responds.
Don’t need all of that to finish ahead of the Cardinals this year. Weak
Really? You think the Cards will geniunely be THAT bad? The Royals don’t get near .50p imho.
Davro, I know he was hurt, but watching Arenado last year against the Dodgers made me want no part of him. His and Goldschmidt’s contracts could turn into albatrosses rather quickly. They don’t have anyone like Mondesi, Merrifield, and maybe not Soler.
Not liking this for the Royals.
Assuming the Sox add on higher prospects, not understanding the Royals thinking 2 years of Benintendi will take them very far.
Salary dump and garbage for Benny – The Sox will receive three players to be named later in the deal, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe tweets. That includes one player from the Mets and a pair from the Royals.
Bloom gone dumpster diving
AND…?
Wonder who the PTBNL are also wonder who long it will be till we know
Have to assume that NYM PTBNL is pretty good or else they fleeced KC
3 PTBNLs? I have no idea how to even evaluate that…
I don’t think the Padres ever did this when they had Renfroe and Cordero but hypothetically speaking they would be a really good platoon combo. The Sox probably didn’t acquire them for that purpose though and Cordero/Verdugo/Renfroe is really not that inspiring of an OF.
KC PTBNL’s are probably trash. The NYM one is probably around the low 20’s in their system, someone Bloom really likes. If that’s the case, this is a pretty fair trade, albeit a really weird one. Doesn’t seem to do anyone all that much good, especially if the Mets are still hunting a MLB centerfielder.
Why do fans tend to judge trades based on just that one move? Don’t they realize it’s part of a bigger plan?
Interesting. I assumed that Benni would be traded as a prelude to JBJ coming back. Now Codero comes in has the #4 OF.
This… doesn’t make any sense. Are the Royals trying to ensure that the Tigers don’t beat them out for 4th in the division the next 2 years?
Are you sure Cleveland’s roster is better than Kansas City’s?
Yes.
Back it up. Both have good young starting pitching, edge to Cleveland. Kansas City has a stronger, more diversified lineup. It would not be stunning if Cleveland got off to a bad start, traded Ramirez, and wound up with 90 losses. After Ramirez, Eddie Rosario is their big threat.
Done.
Cleveland won 35 games in 2020, which in a 162 game season comes out to 94.5 wins. They traded Lindor who has averaged 6.1 WAR per 162 games for his career. So the Indians probably win 88 games in 2021. The Royals, on the other hand, won 26 games in 2020, which in a 162 game season comes out to 70.2 wins. They added Benintendi who has averaged 2.8 WAR per 162 games for his career. So the Royals probably win 73 games in 2021. It’s tough to predict how the rest of their rosters will shake out but at this point, even after accounting for both trades, the Royals have to make up 15 wins in order to catch the Indians.
You talk about Kansas City having a stronger lineup, yet they scored the same # of runs in 2020 and that was with Lindor largely being a non-factor at the plate. I don’t like Cleveland either for 2021, but they are still head and shoulders above Kansas City.
Both have good young starting pitching, edge to Cleveland
=============================================================
Cleveland’s ERA was a full run better last year. Losing Carrasco will hurt that, but not come close to making up one full run.
Doesn’t make a lot of sense for any of the three teams, to be perfectly honest. Strange trade.
So I’m confused…is Franchy part of the deal or are all (3) players Boston is getting back unknown (PTBNL)? If they do get Franchy, I don’t understand what Bloom is doing. Both Franchy and Renfroe are big power bats but low OBP guys who strike out a ton. Layer in Dalbec on top of that and Boston looks like they are going to lead the league in strikeouts this year if Renfroe, Cordero & Dalbec are everyday players. Something seems off with this deal. Either the Sox are going to get another OF from somewhere or they are going to move someone from the IF to the OF full time. Still, this doesn’t seem like part of a strategy at all, especially with Boston paying 1/2 of Benny’s salary. That doesn’t free up enough money to make a big move, so I’m thoroughly confused.
The real fun fact about acquiring power hitters is that the league is taking the juice out of the ball so the low average, low OBP guys with power will suck even worse in 2021.
Any hitter moving to Fenway is likely to improve. Regardless of what they do to the ball.
Dorothy_Mantooth10 hours ago
If they do get Franchy, I don’t understand what Bloom is doing. Both Franchy and Renfroe are big power bats but low OBP guys who strike out a ton.
=======================================================================
My assumption here is that the RS are intent on acquiring a true CF, and that Franchy becomes the #4, I’d be very surprised if Franchy is our starting CF.
So let’s remember PTBNLs can’t currently be on the 40-man rosters. So Bloom got 3 at least semi prospects, a 4th OF with some pop, and a minor league pitcher who looks to be effective with a Low K rate.
Doesn’t look to be too bad. Bene for whatever reason never seemed to be a part of “the plan”.
Yes they can be on 40-man rosters
bobtillman, It’s interesting to me that this trade happened on the day Billy Conigliaro died. The two are similar in that they looked like the real deal when they first came up. Billy was done in Boston at 23 and out of MLB two years later. Who knows what will happen with Benintendi, but players often don’t pan out as we hoped. It’s a difficult game to excel at. The lifestyle with all that travel is awful. Hardly anyone makes the Hall of Fame.
What do you mean? Every young player only ever improves. The commenters on this site told me so.
Ha. That’s why we always must evaluate trades immediately, even before all the PTBNLs are announced. What good is a trade without a “who-won-the-trade=poll” three hours later?
say what you want but the Royals did well. Cordero sucks. Lee was never going to amount to much. They have a pretty good lineup. Young studs getting close to major leagues. And of the Sox Mets and Royals who was the most recent to win the WS? That’s right the Royals. Mets are getting close also but the Sox look like they will fight it out with the Orioles for last place to me.
The Red Sox were more recent than the Royals.
The Red Sox won in 2018…..
What? Did you forget about 2018?
What? Red Sox won the WS in 2018 knucklehead. I’m going to say this once and only once – Stay off the drugs!
Forgot about 2018. Must not of been a very good series. Can’t even remember who they played. Anyway the Sox look like a very poor team. Not in the same league with NY Tampa and Toronto.
I think the Royals have made some decent moves this offseason and could be pretty good this year (with a lot depending on their young pitchers).
But implying that the Royals 2015 World Series win is some indication of their winning culture is a stretch. The Royals have only made the playoffs twice this century (2000-2020) while having 12 seasons with 90+ losses during that span, including back-to-back 100+ loss seasons in 2018-2019.
Red Sox won in 2018
5 players for Benny is great.
You mean the RS got 5 humans….hmmm
Whatever man I like the return you don’t is ok. Everyone has different opinions.
So Bloom has obtained 2 OFers who may or may not have value without the Super Ball, considering their K-rates. If the HRs Renfroe and Frenchy hit suddenly becomes fly balls…..tho I admit Renfroe’s defense is underappreciated. He’ll need the “D”; Codero is awful in the field, and Verdugo is passable, and only on a corner..
But again, we’ve got to see who the PTBN are.
Verdugo is more than passable Bob….
Verdugo is more than passable. His UZR/150 in LF last year was higher than Betts was in RF. And his DRS saved in the past two years in LF, is 14 in 295.2 innings. I don’t place to much emphasis on fielding stats, which vary a lot, but these stats are almost impossibly good,
The only reason I mention it is because I think this is the ultimate reason that we traded Benni-to put Verdugo back in LF.
This guy Bloom is truly horrible. No wonder Tampa got rid of this idiot. The deals this guy has done are truly pathetic
Yeah, I take back my defense of him. Now that the terms are Final…. this is a HORRIBLE trade for BOS. Basically just gave Benny to KC for nothing and kicked in cash to sweeten it. However if you’re the Royals — this is a great trade.
i too was in Bloom’s corner until this went down, but this is absurd. salery dump very good player you coulf have just non tendered and effectively trade Khalil lee for some random SP no one’s heard of. a joke to be sure.
Renfroe in LF, Cordero in CF, and Verdugo in RF looks like it could be the Outfield alignment.
I would say Renfroe – RF, Verdugo – CF, Cordero – LF unless they bring up Durran. Durran – CF, Verdugo- RF, Renfroe -LF.
…but who really knows what the thought process is with these front office goofballs
The NL West migrated to the Sox. Padres/Dodgers outfield 2018/19
If your choices are Verdugo or Cordero in CF you definitely want Verdugo, he’s a much better overall defender.
Franchy is really fast, but his routes are sketchy and even though he’s 26 he hasn’t logged a bunch of game innings in the OF because he was converted from SS in the minors. I think he started playing OF like 5 years ago and he’s been hurt most of that time. He’s athletic enough to do it, but also you’re going to get bonehead plays like the time he misjudged a ball and broke up Tyson Ross’ potential no hitter.
I would like to take a shot with Duran out of the gate, and they might, but they can sign Pillar for one year at cf until Duran is ready.
Cordero and Renfroe match up nicely as a platoon.
No JBJ….
DOOM Bloom should have traded JBJ while he was hot last year and could have gotten some of his farm restocking tools, but for some reason…..he didn’t. Sigh!!! Now look what he has….a new garbage OF from KC, low A pitcher, and 3 PTBNL (which means more trash). Happy dumpster diving day Chaim DOOM
Yeah, not trading Bradley was a colossal mistake.
Nobody wanted him badly enough to give us something.
Still, nobody wants him bad enough to give him a contract.
Not at four years, but he was worth trading last summer. Either we asked for the moon or given last summer’s situation they didn’t feel compelled to trade – PR.
bosoxinjection.com/2020/09/01/red-sox-exploring-ja…
Contrary to your comment:
According to Bradford’s report, there was interest around the league so they could have gotten something for him. Instead, they held on to him and might lose him for nothing after the season.
I’ll take this reporting…honestly where do you guys come from….are you following the Sox or just make this stuff up
As soxshortstop pointed out, there was interest. I doubt they would have gotten any top 100 prospects but literally anything would have been better than the nothing they ended up getting for him.
Trading Bradley wouldn’t have caused any bad PR!
soxshortstop2 hours ago
bosoxinjection.com/2020/09/01/red-sox-exploring-ja…
where do you guys come from….are you following the Sox or just make this stuff up
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They are not only NOT RS fans, it doesn’t sound to me like they are even BB fans.
90% of MLB players have value, maybe more. It all depends on how much salary you want to eat. And JBJ’s full year bWAR projects to 5.67.
The idea that the RS could move Pillar for Wallace, but couldn’t move JBJ, is beyond laughable. I assume that the reason Bloom didn’t want to trade him was because he wanted to make an off-season offer, but no one knows for sure.
But, if history has taught us anything, we know that Workman, Hembree, Pillar, Moreland, and Osich are moveable. And JBJ is a lot better than them.
@JoeBrady nice try. Trading JBJ wouldn’t have stopped Bloom from making him an offseason offer.
No, but it might’ve made it more uncomfortable for JBJ to return. This was the issue in 2014 with Koji. He’d have commended a king’s ransom, but the RS wanted to extend him, so they kept him.
@JoeBrady Do you have any actual evidence that trading a player makes it more uncomfortable for him to return? Or is it just something you like to say? I mean the Red Sox aren’t exactly having an easy time signing him this offseason even with not trading him. And JBJ has been pretty explicit about what it is he wants. Do you really think that, if the Red Sox trade him and then offer him that, he refuses to sign?
Bloom literally could not get a lotto ticket and a bag of sun flower seeds for JBJ last year. There is a reason he is still a free agent and it’s not because everyone wants him
If people looked at other teams’ rosters and considered Boras’ apparent demands, they would see this. Bradley is not good enough to start for a contender and too old and costly to make sense for a rebuilding team. The legs will go eventually and when they do, he won’t be worthy of a roster spot at any price. Teams don’t make these kinds of signings anymore.
See above…actually I’ll post it here.
Contrary to your comment:
According to Bradford’s report, there was interest around the league so they could have gotten something for him. Instead, they held on to him and might lose him for nothing after the season.
I’ll take this reporting…honestly where do you guys come from….are you following the Sox or just make this stuff up
Rsox
There is a reason he is still a free agent
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The reason is that Boras is hinting at a 4-5 year contract, while the market is probably looking at a 2 year contract.
Bloom underwhelms again! Those PTBNL’s better not be terrible cuz right now this is a boston give away! They really wanted to trade benintendi! A fine trade for KC!
Even money says Cordero outperforms Benny this season
you’d have to be on something to bet Francy outhitting anyone.
You have a bet! We get to the dog days and we’d be lucky if he hit his weight! Why do you like em?
Bloom is just destroying the Red Sox and picking up garbage!!! Who is going to play Centerfield this year? Who are the 4th and 5th starters and who is going to close and who are the relief pitchers. Bloom underwhelming again
You know the answers to all of that. You are just here to criticize.
Alex Gordon v2.0. Only fitting the Royals get him as AG sunsets.
Another left handed bat? Okeley Dokeley!
Dumb move by the Royals
Glad we traded him. He was tapering off the last few years.
I’m not sure about Bloom though… I didn’t care for Benintendi but what was Bloom thinking here?
Horrible deal for KC. Lee could end up being the best player in the deal. Also feel like Cordero probably outperforms Benny
This reminds me of yellich to the brewers for some reason
Another Bloom Blunder. Is he trying to destroy that team?
good thing pirates did not pick him up they would have lost financial flexibility and their payroll would have gone over 40 million
I like this deal for Boston. Sox have a barren farm system so it seems Bloom is acquiring guys who were given top level prospect grades but have never been given the at bats to sink or swim. Verdugo, Renfroe, and now Cordero all fit that mold. Benny was regressing year by year and if that continued he would have not gotten any return. Low risk move by Bloom. At worst Cordero is another Wily Mo Pena and they spend money next offseason on a OF. At best he is your starting CF under team control for a year or two.
Their farm system is not that bad! All this is is a salary dump and cheap major league minimum. Bloom has destroyed this team in one year, Betts traded, Bradley let walk, and now Benintendi traded for nothing. Way to go Bloom! No one is coming to see this team this year. Don’t waste your money seeing this inferior product on the field
Good don’t show up. More beer for me.
So…outfield went from Betts/Bradley/Bene to this in 1 yr. Understand they’re planning for future but yikes!!!
I am beginning to wonder if Bloom is paid off by the Yankees to destroy the Red Sox. This guy is a small market cheap team GM. He had no place in Boston. We have gone from extremes here with free spending and trading Dave Dombroski to “Rube Goldberg” plug players in on the cheap mode Bloom.
AL34 – Patience, in 10 or so years many of these guys will be 10 years older and veterans of the minor leagues and they might even get the Red Sox a great farm system rating AND a top draft pick in the following year’s draft!!!
Can you hear the sound of the water swirling down the drain?
I’m gonna go out on a limb to predict that in ten years, all of these players will be 10 years older, not just many of them.
Maybe we should call Bloom the TIdyBowl man. He flushed Mookie and Price and now Benny to go with JBJ and others from the 2018 team. All to beef up the farm system with high draft picks. Is it tanking, imploding or shooting yourself in the foot? Which best applies to the complete lack of success by TidyBowl Man?
Bloom came from the Rays, and their past and present key to success seems to be a top 5 (this year they are rated arguably #1) farm system to keep feeding players with high ability and low cost into their major league team….most commenters fall all over themselves praising this system….what else did anyone expect from Bloom but to follow this blueprint up in Beantown…….a farm system full of ability while costing management the bare minimum to play. Benintendi was obviously not the asset in managements eyes many of us thought and commented on.
Finally, some of the talk has turned to Devers, but no one mentioned that he has accumulated about 60% of his career oWAR in 2019 and that it was 1.4, 1.2, and 1.2 in his other three seasons. He also has been a below average fielder in all four seasons.
There have been suggestions that he will be moved to first base but no one mentions that he is 6’0″, which could have some ramifications. Let’s suppose there are two first basemen: one whose arm length/stretch gives him a half foot edge on the other. A 90-mph throw (132 ft/sec) that travels 70 feet to the shorter one would only travel 69.5 feet to the other one, a difference of .0038 seconds. If the batter can get to first base in 3.5 seconds (25.71 ft/sec), the runner would an advantage of about 1.17 inches if the throw was to shorter first baseman. Certainly not much but there are enough bang-bang plays so some might have a bearing on the outcome of a game.
Now, I don’t know whether Devers would be considered short, normal, or long at first base, but even more importantly with regard to him is that he will be again eligible for arbitration after this season. If his offense bounces back around his 2019 level, he will be looking for a maximum raise and with his eligibility for free agency looming in 2024, do the Red Sox try to sign him to a long-term contract or continue to fight in raising his salary and ultimately force him into taking the free agent route? Alternatively, they could trade him but if he doesn’t bounce all the way back, his value is diminished, especially if the universal DH is not adopted. But the same holds true if he does come all the way back. Perhaps they should have traded him after the 2019 season and kept Mookie.
I’m not convinced keeping Mookie was ever an option, but you be you.
Nice post.
That betts trade was fantastic for them. No regrets there and it would have been crazy to trade devers at that time as he was in same discussion as Acuna and Soto (spare me your opinion Braves fans). U make several good points however and I agree w your assessments.
I think Red Sox have came to the understanding they have lost the competitive edge vs yanks and are acting accordingly which means to tear it all the way down and start over. Build a quality system to bring in players ready to produce like rays tend to year in and year out. Devers and Boegrats have a ton of trade value. If I was Braves- I’d gut my whole system for him in a 1/2 a heartbeat
bot24 mins ago
That betts trade was fantastic for them. No regrets there If
I was Braves- I’d gut my whole system for him in a 1/2 a heartbeat
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I wouldn’t object to it, but I’d like to see how Dalbec does this season. With his power and K%, he could range from Chavis-bad to Gallo-good. But if both he and Casas look good this year, I’d consider sliding Dalbec to 3rd and moving Casas into first,
It would likely be a downgrade, but a good year from devers could command a substantial return.
I love the move! I don’t even care who the PTBNLs are. Someone has to say it: Bloom is all right! He is genuinely building an interesting club that will surprise quite a few this year and, by next year, really get back into the fray. It’s not hard to see how this process will create an annual contender in the near future. Don’t obsess over the individual names. If Cordero doesn’t work out, so what? He’ll be gone. If Benintendi finds his swing again (fat chance), so what? Say yes to the future.
If Benintendi was making $16 million I could at least understand a salary dump. At $6 million this deal seems like quantity of bodies over quality. Bloom must really like Cordero. The KC pitcher sounds like roster depth or a MLB swing man. The 3 TBN can’t be anything special. This is one of those trades that needs to play out. Right now I feel the Sox were stupid.
Personally feel like they gave up on him too soon. Sometimes following computer metrics doesn’t work out so well..I hope Benni rebounds, always liked him.
Teams and especially fans on this site who comment are addicted to todays metrics and analytics to judge and comment on players abilities or their shortcomings……..using your eyes and judgement went out a long time ago.
When Benintendi’s name was in rumors, people had these big returns going back for him… and it was unrealistic for a guy who hasn’t been an above avg hitter since ASB 2018… and some alarming peripherals.. teams are all over that and don’t give a damn about name value.. this is what he was worth.. I hope he turns it around just bc I like him as a player but not counting on it
Just goes to show that all of us who comment really don’t know squat about what teams actually think, and will do about everything that is commented about…..
That has been going on forever. Every fan thinks certain guys are worth the sun and the moon.
Benintendi’s current value was in the contract money and years and he is still young. It wasn’t on what he showed the last 2 years. The package should have been better but we are talking maybe 2 second tier prospects. They basically dealt him for a similar guy but with less ability and a 4 scratch tickets.
Royals are a fantastically ran franchise. They have done an A+ job for a small market team since going to 2 World Series. Their rotation and farm is loaded w young pitchers w a long track record of success and have a decent core in line up while making wise FA acquisitions.
They have improved there team much more than twins, are ran better than white Sox, and have a better roster than Detroit or Cleveland.
Where’s the love ?!?
Looks like the Mets are finally focusing on some speed guys. I like Lee’s walk and RBI numbers, too. Cut down on those strikeouts and learn to put the ball in play with 2 strikes before getting to the majors or coaches and big league pitchers might eat him up.
At the end of the day, the Sox were likely in heat to move AB; see all those rumors a month ago. And usually those moves are for reasons that aren’t on the back of the player’s baseball cards.
And the three PTBNL are usually just for show; “THEY GOT FIVE PLAYERS FOR BENE!!!” They’re likely guys from the DSL that the Sox may have had initial interest in, and lost out to KC/NYM at signing time. I doubt that Matt Allen or Bobby Witt are the PTBNL.
That said, all three teams got what they wanted. Frenchie’s ceiling (2nd division regular) is lower than Bene’s; and the pitcher could be useful, in a “bulk innings” kind of way. But all the upside is to KC and NYM (Lee is definitely interesting, because of the speed; floor of a 4th OF, without much of a ceiling).
If AB doesn’t work out, nobody paid too much.
Cordero’s tools have outstripped his performance thus far in his career. He was dealt from San Diego to Kansas City just before the 2020 season in a trade that netted the Padres lefty reliever Tim Hill. Cordero boasts double-plus speed in center field and generates massive power from a huge frame and long levers. Even so, his lack of pitch-recognition has hampered his ability to make contact and thus get to his power. When he puts it together, Cordero’s gifts are tremendous. But inconsistency and injuries—he’s played just 95 games over four big league seasons—have made him a bit of a tease. He’ll get a chance to try to make his results match his tools as part of a rebuilding Red Sox team.
Benintendi hurt his ribs last year. It is hard to swing a bat with injured ribs. Bloom traded a salary and received garbage for him. Another high upside player with high hopes who is injured a lot. The pitcher is a single A pitcher who has a straight fastball with no movement and no other pitch. A crap deal here. Looks like he will never make it out of the minors.
Scouting report on new Red Sox RHP Josh Winckowski per a source: Big frame, inconsistent delivery. FB 93-96 T97 lacks movement. Potential avg. mid-80s SL & high-80s CH. Started throwing a split at instructs this year. Likely a reliver. Secondaries need refinement to stick as a SP
I sort of thought Benintendi could be another Mike Greenwell. Some may even have thought of Freddie Lynn. My guess is that he wasn’t very good to work with and may have frustrated the coaches. Change of scenery could work for him. Kind of frustrating to see the outfield gone but that’s life in the big city. Frenchy Cordero reminds me (a little bit) of Wily Mo Pena, a talented underachiever who cost Bronson Arroyo, an earlier version of Jeff Porcello. I still think Benintendi will be good but I don’t find fault in the move because I think there’s more to it beyond the surface.
Benintendi could have been like Greenwell if he didn’t try to become a Home Run hitter.
Its funny you mention the Outfield being gone. Looking back over the years the Sox have had some terrible looking Outfields on paper. But usually each had one consistent presence. It went from Greenwell to Troy O’Leary to Manny Ramirez to Jacoby Ellsbury to Jackie Bradley Jr. I wonder if Verdugo becomes that linchpin for the next few years
Benny lost his ‘sweet’ swing for ’19 when he tried to bulk up to hit more homers. Last year he had a rib injury. I still think this guy is a .300 hitter moving forward. As a Sox fan I’m not emotionally thrilled with this trade, I like Benny. It’s fun watching him play. But I see the logic. I just fear the Royals are getting a far better value than they paid.
As for Bloom, I give the guy a pass for now. He’s still in a forced position of trying to repair the damage to the farm system that Dombrowski is famous for, not to mention the ownership’s desire to get under the threshold.
I won’t start holding Bloom accountable until next year when the ship is righted. We’ll see how he does then. 2021 is a lost year in my mind, so I can wait.
Chaim Bloom might have secured more young MLB or MLB ready talent in a trade with another team giving the Red Sox a better chance to compete in the next couple of years. I thought the White Sox might have been in play for Benintendi and could have dealt from some surplus pitching and outfield depth on their projected 2021 active roster in a potential trade, perhaps a SP with some experience and remaining upside in Reynaldo Lopez, a bullpen arm like Matt Foster and/or a speedy Gold Glove caliber CF with an improving right-handed bat in Adam Engel who has nice splits versus LHP.
I agree, but that all assumes that the White Sox were seriously in on AB.
Racism in Boston is alive and well!
Is that just a broad stereotyping, or is there something in this trade that makes you think of racism?
They have 6 months to pick PTBNL?
By DOOM BLOOM’s logic – NEXT UP to be traded: #7 Christian Vasquez
Really bad move for the Mets; especially given up the best pitcher in the Matz deal for the next Keon Broxton. Lee’s strikeout rate is on par with Keon Broxton and it will be painful to watch him play.
Met’s ownership made great moves but soon as they got close this roster will fall short but I will take it and root for them.
You go from arguably the best all around outfield in the majors (defensively for sure) in 18 to having none of them by the start of 21…That’s baseball……..
The Curse of Mookie!!!! Sox made a big mistake not signing him.
Sox weren’t going to sign him either way. He didn’t want to stay.
Looks like Boston anticipates Jarren Duran to be ready to play in the Majors this season. With a great Spring Training he could actually break camp with the team but it’s more likely he starts in Worcester and gets called up in June or July. This also opens the door for a Yasiel Puig signing in Boston. Knowing the Fenway Faithful quite well, Puig could become a fan favorite in Boston so long as he gives it his all every time he goes out of the field. This is the last chance for Puig to play well and earn a multi-year deal in 2022, so it would be a good gamble by Boston. Sign him to a cheap deal with a lot of incentives. If he doesn’t fit in or perform then they can cut him for short money, but if he works out they have a great trade piece at the deadline. The whole ‘clubhouse cancer’ thing with him is way overblown. Xander, Sale, Vazquez & the other leaders can keep him in line. Sign Puig & Keone Kela and call it an offseason.
Anyone know where Boston’s payroll is now? Are they over the threshold still?
Great trade for the Royals. Lee was a loss, but they have other equally strong OF prospect in Heath and Isabel. KC has very quietly put together a deceptively strong roster. Division title? No, but definitely a good candidate for a W.C.
Bailing out on Benintendi with 2 more years of relatively low cost contracts seems odd?
There has to be information the reader doesn’t have here? Some kind of off field issue or an issue between Benintendi’s ears or he just wanted out of Boston?
I’m not questioning the players the Red Sox got.
Yes, I can see some of Benintendi’s metrics have gone down in the last 2 seasons. But he was hurt in 2020, or at least that’s what was said?
But this is just the kind of player teams like KC, Tampa and Oakland, that try to play Moneyball, love to pick up.
It gets even odder that Boston had to pay some of Benintendi’s contract in 2021?
Does that imply KC thinks Benintendi’s only worth $3,800,000 ($6,600,000 – $2,800,000)?
My guess is that KC thinks he’s trade bait in July? Don’t see them paying Benintendi’s arb contract in 2022 unless Benintendi somehow morphs into a superstar by July 31st.
Would have thought the Red Sox would have thought that too?
Most teams can’t afford to publicly admit mistakes and pay a player to play elsewhere as the Red Sox did with Benintendi and Price in 2020. But then perhaps cutting your losses is a smart move if you’re accustomed to trading commodity futures as John Henry did in another life to make his fortune?
It appears the Red Sox are playing a hybrid form of Moneyball perhaps?
With the ability to pay more when the risk/reward looks in their favor.
So if you look at the players the Red Sox have gotten rid of since 2019 you’ll get an idea on what they thought of the players they got rid of.
My 2 cents worth is that it’s, more often than not, an attitude problem relative to their performance vs contract valuation.
In other words John Henry didn’t think they were worth what either he was paying them or what they wanted to be paid.
SG – Or could it simply be bad ownership decisions and a new GM that wants the team to be HIS?
The Red Sox playing Moneyball after 20 years of competing with the Yankees? Does that really make sense?
Other than JBJ who should have been non-tendered in Dec of 2019 by the all-knowing Bloom to help get the Red Sox closer to the cap by $11M, NOBODY that ownership or Bloom have cleared out have cost significantly more than their worth, NOT EVEN PRICE!!!
Benintendi’s numbers showed one ‘average’ year like so many on the Sox in 2019. 2020 was an injury year and a complete anomaly year that should be thrown out or players like Yelich, Altuve, Lindor and others should have been traded too using the same logic. His OPS+ for 2016 to 2020 were 118, 103, 123, 100 and 27 in the anomaly year. That means his first four years he averaged 111 while under team control. Who in their right mind trades a player who averages an OPS+ of 111 in their first 4 years under control.? IDIOTS, that’s who.
If you are pro ownership you can project any fake news you want into what’s wrong with Benny. NOTHING was wrong with BENNY other than what the coaching staff did to change his approach at the plate. If KC returns him back to being the contract hitter that sprays the ball all over the park his OPS+ will return to being above 110 and may average something closer to 125 for his career. Isn’t that worth the small contract they were paying him? Not in TB but in Boston it is!!
You CAN NOT conclude anything from what ownership has done since they fired DD because it is illogical and inconsistent with the previous 20 years. Don’t assume there are issues with the players moved from the 2018 Roster, assume there is a HUGE issue with ownership’s thinking these days. Key indicators are:
1 – Firing one of the most successful GMs after he wins you a ring
2 – Hiring an inexperienced small market GM for the BOSTON RED SOX
3 – Throwing away the best player in a generation (My guess – diversity issues)
4 – DOUBLE paying to move a minority pitcher who happens to be their #2 SP
5 – Making a MUST deal in January when July would have been ideal
6 – Rushing to get under the cap when exceeding the cap isn’t in your plans
7 – Taking a RF with a bad back, an over-rated MI and a 5th catcher not SPs
8 – Systematically removing the remainder of the 2018 roster
9 – Rehiring a convicted cheater to be the manager (twice accused)
10 – Praising the two time cheater publicly, as if he had an ounce of integrity
10 things that suggest the FORMER ownership is long gone and an entirely new and unknown thought process is now in place.
We as fans have NO IDEA what’s now going through the heads of the ownership group. They need to sell to TRUE RED SOX fans who have big bucks and want to compete with the Yankees like they did the last 20 years. This ownership group went from one to be admired to one to be hated and ashamed of. No integrity whether we are talking diversity or their insincere attempt to cover up their lack of diversity by hiring a black woman coach and a cheating manager who is a minority,