Outfielder Andrew Benintendi has won his arbitration hearing against the Royals, according to Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star. Benintendi will rake in a 2022 salary of $8.5MM, a good bit greater than the team’s submitted arbitration figure of $7.3MM.
While either arbitration figure represents a life-changing amount of money, Benintendi and his camp had a strong platform campaign that certainly helped tip the scales in their favor. Through 134 contests last season the left-handed hitter posted a trade-validating .276/.324/.442 (105 OPS+) slash line with 17 home runs and Gold Glove-winning defense. Last year’s performance didn’t quite reach the heights many expected of Benintendi based on his early days in Boston, but it reversed a number of worrying trends that were displayed during a dismal 14-game stint in 2020.
With this 2022 salary locked in, Benintendi’s camp can now turn their attention to securing his next big payday at the end of the season, when he’s slated to reach free agency for the first time. Following the initial trade that brought Benintendi to Kansas City, it seemed as if the team might try and secure the rights to their newest acquisition on a team-friendly extension. Instead, the 27-year-old now looks primed to be a trade candidate more than anything owing to the team’s lagging record and his high-contact .314/.368/.381 (123 OPS+) start to the season.
Turning to the Royals’ side of the hearing, Worthy interestingly notes that this is the first time since president of baseball operations Dayton Moore was hired in 2006 that the club has lost in arbitration. Infielder Nicky Lopez, who is in his first arbitration year, is the only remaining Royal awaiting an arbitration hearing.
Sounds like something that should be shouted from a castle turret while holding a very long trumpet
Followed by, “… inconceivable!!”
…and at some point,….. :
“never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when DEATH is on the line…..”
A round of applause to all y’all!! Just had me chuckling reading that.
I’d like to see him defeat them in hand-to-hand combat. Then I’d be impressed.
I read this story as if they settled it with a fencing duel.
Were the Royals trying to cut back
He is mostly a singles hitter this year with only 4 extra base hits out of 33 total hits going into tonight. Also interesting is that he hasn’t attempted to steal a base yet.
The figures are based on last year’s results. It doesn’t matter at all if he misses this entire season, the salary is set based on the previous year.
Good point. I just found it interesting that he seems to be a different hitter this year. Could be just a small sample size. He did hit a home run last night.
If they fought him for 1.5 mil, I don’t think he will listen to a team-friendly extension.
Teams and players go to arbitration all the time over much smaller amounts.
That’s a pretty sizeable gap for arbitration. There was a story posted recently about an arbitration hearing over a $250k difference and I’ve heard about battles over $100k.
Dodgerok added to the long list of names of people here who doesn’t understand the arb system. Can you name any instances where a player sighted he resigned with his own team in free agency because the team gave him a extra mill or two in arbitration? No didn’t think so.
Don’t think it’s that but does create some goodwill. If a team trys to squeeze every nickel from you it leave bad taste. At the end though you are right it won’t make a difference where he signs.
Don’t they have to argue why he is not worth the money at the table in front of him? It’s hard not to be human and hold a grudge after that. I definitely wouldn’t be able to let it go.
I don’t know why a player would attend the hearing. Let the agent deal with it.
At what rate were arb players paid to this point this year? Prorated minimum or something?
I haven’t seen the answer for that, but it would make sense if the prorated amount was the number the team submitted and then adjust from there.
Not prorated. This was to determine his 2022 salary. The only reason the arb hearing was during the season was because of the lockout. Normally this would have happened before the regular season started.
They were paid at the team submission. If they win the hearing, they get paid the difference plus interest (which obviously isn’t a ton of money over a relatively short time).
Sounds like a candidate for the Rays. Plays multiple positions, great defense, competent but not all star quality hitting, right up their alley.
He makes more than minimum wage, so NOT a candidate for the Rays. He’d be a non-tender for them
He doesn’t play multiple positions. He’s limited to LF because of his noodle arm.
Two things will prevent the Rays from even kicking the tires on Benintendi: 1) His age, 2) He makes/expects too much salary wise.
Andrew Benintendi is left field only. you’re probably thinking of Whit Merrifield. The Rays probably don’t have enough prospects for the value of Whit Merrifield in terms of what he can do on the field.
Reliable players of average talent do have value. Good for him
Hey Gallo hold the door for Yankee Nintendo
Bro, you really do not like Gallo, do you?
Can’t argue with that lol
Hey Sean Bavazanno and MLBTR scribes. Defeat is just…not…right. Too understated. How about squashed? Destroyed? Eviscerated? Humiliated?
Crushed? Obliterated? Annihilated? Exsanguinated?
Gbs: Seems like you may have had someone very specific in mind when writing that… lol
Given how this year has gone Boston would trade back for Benni in a heartbeat. If it’s salary the Royals want rid of send them Duran and a lower level prospect for Benni….I’m sick of watching JBJ try to hit plus we need on base guys don’t care if it’s walks or singles…..
Good thing you’re not the Boston GM
Kingbum you are completely wrong! Bloom trades for low cost, controllable players and Beni is NEITHER!
Well right now our potential other Left fielder is on the injury list, so unless you put Kyle Isabel there (I actually like the idea of him taking over in centerfield After Taylor’s contract ends) We need Andrew Benintendi for awhile. In fact I would prefer he sign an extension hopefully they’ll be in discussion with him I think he does like being in Kansas City. He has already done the big club and I very much doubt he would want to play for a team like the rays, that plays indoor baseball all the time unless they are on the road.
Typical Royals move. They give Royals fans zero hope. They need to clean house starting with Dayton Moore on down. The new owner who “ was going to spend” is another David Glass AKA does his shopping at Wal-Mart.
Although the Royals likely won he three team trade that brought Andrew Benintendi to the Royals, he has been disappointing overall. He is not a player the Royals can build around.
He’s the best bet in MLB to be traded by the deadline.
Yep it is started watching baseball in 2018 you can tell.
Benny is the perfect target for the Yankees. At the trade deadline or in free agency. Probably won’t happen though.
Don’t the Yankees have a whole bunch of outfielders? And I doubt he would want to shave completely. Any team that makes you shave a beard off is dumb.
Any team that makes you shave your beard off is in first place. He probably considers that a bit more than he does keeping facial hair, since playing baseball is about winning the game, and not a beard-growing competition.
Bennintendi DEMOLISHES Royals in epic arb battle….
How about he wins his arbitration hearing?
“Bennintendi mirrors Royals’ competition and beats them to a pulp”… ?
Well, with the new dead ball, he’s a singles hitter now.
Good luck, shorty!
Good for Benny! Imagine, the Sox essentially traded Benny for JBJ & his $17 million giveaway. I remain amazed anyone thinks JBJ is worth a roster spot.
Batting a buck eighty-nine in what the FO hoped would be a Renaissance season and triumphant return to BOS. Only question now is when do they pull the chain and eat the rest of that contract? Oh, and Hunter Renfro is in MIL providing us daily reminders of what a foolish trade that was.
Renfroe will quickly regress to the league average player he is. No big loss there.
I remain amazed that people think teams can’t win with one guy in the batting order being terrible offensively. If your team is struggling offensively the first guy you shouldn’t be blaming is JBJ it’s whoever is batting 1,2,3 or 4.
We’re both amazed. 2-3-4 in Boston are .834, .859, .860 respectively in OPS. From your reply, I’m suspicious you might be Chaim Bloom himself. There’s giving up some offence for defence, then there’s paying a guy $17 million for no offence at all. The Sox re-acquired a player that can’t hit MLB pitching – odd choice. Further, all three of the contributing players referenced above are likely headed out of town sooner than later. Bloom has a mess on his hands.
I blame Verdugo, Keke, JBJ, Dalbec, Story, and Vazquez…..The OPS for all these players suck, you can’t win with just 3 hitters. I blame the fact they are striking out way too much and not drawing enough walks. Nobody hits for contact anymore, and what Boston needs is contact hitters who set the plate for Devers, Bogaerts, and Martinez.
The Royals should get another point in the L-column.