While we know the Yankees have significant interest in superstar Juan Soto, the odds of a deal are long enough that New York has to explore other potential upgrades as well. The latest report pegs the Yankees to be “serious contenders” for Royals’ outfielder Andrew Benintendi, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter).
The Yankees currently have the highest-producing outfield in the Majors by the measure of fWAR, but the group has been buoyed by Aaron Judge’s MVP-type season. An addition could help secure the club against the possibility of injury heading into the postseason. A left-handed outfielder bat would also help to balance a lineup that leans to the right.
Given the struggles of Joey Gallo (88 wRC+), acquiring Benintendi wouldn’t necessarily take the Yankees out of the running for Soto, though that situation is hardly worth a consideration until the Yankees have at least one of the outfielders in hand. Furthermore, the Yankees could simply stick with Aaron Hicks, who has turned it around to post a 110 wRC+ on the year. Hicks has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, so the Yankees might simply be seeking further depth in the outfield to protect against the worst-case scenario.
With the Royals out of the race and Benintendi heading towards free agency, he should be a relatively low-cost addition for some contender this trade season. Even considering his strong season (128 wRC+), acquiring Benintendi would cost only a shade of what it would take to acquire Soto.
Of course, it wasn’t long ago that reports had the Yankees out on Benintendi because of his vaccination status. The Yankees only have three games remaining in Toronto, however, so it wouldn’t necessarily become an issue until possibly the postseason.
Get vaccinated!
I agree, polio is no joke!
Still craving to give head I see
No Ben Nintendo!!! Just Soto!!!
I highly doubt anyone who didn’t get the jab in the first year will be getting it now.
I see I created a fun discussion below. That wasn’t, btw, my intent. I simply want him to be able to play in games in Toronto.
It seems the conversation is now *above*!
I think you stirred up a hornets nest.
Seems so. Some thought I was making a medical or political statement, when I was making a baseball statement. Purely for selfish reasons, I want him to be able to play in games in Toronto!
You know that gif of the toddler walking enthusiastically into a room, taking a glance, making a face of horror and then quickly scampering back out?…. Yea.
So Lord, you’re really agnostic on vaccines, but totally pro-baseball? I approve.
I guess the Yanks would gladly pay the Royals to take Gallo for the rest of the year, too.
Am I the only person who thinks Benintendi is overrated? He is basically a singles hitter in the prime of his career and while his OF defense shows well statistically, he doesn’t have great range and he has a wet noodle for an arm. With that said, he might be a good addition for NY as they need runners on base when their sluggers come to the plate (Judge, Stanton, Rizzo). They could keep DJL leading off, bat Benintendi second and move Judge into the 3rd slot, followed by Rizzo and Stanton. This gives them two OBP batters in front of their power bats and alllows them to go R,L,R,L,R from a lineup perspective. So while Benintendi is not going to be someone who moves the needle himself, he would be a good addition to the Yankees lineup for sure. The Yankees just shouldn’t overpay for him.
Nope. We don’t need this guy.
No thank you!. We already have a lousy hitter named Ryan O’Hearn. we don’t need Ryan O’Hearn’s hitting twin.
LOL
2 weeks ago they wanted him.
Last week they ruled out any interest.
Today they’re “serious contenders”.
Nobody “ruled out interest” except for Fraud Heyman.
To be fair, most non-Yankees baseball fans ruled out interest in NYY rumors and prospect lists years ago…
“And to prove my non interest I’m going to read the posts and reply to them.”
I did say “most fans”, bud reading comprehension is not your strong suit, Joe. You can probably get some Hooked On Phonics audio tapes on eBay for cheap. Good luck to you…
Little defensive there Joe, take a break, find a drink and enjoy the wonderful Saturday that is today. Stankees dodgers Astros and probably a few more all have a legit chance at winning it all this year. Once the playoffs hit it’s all a crapshoot so pick up some dank greens and get ready for some great baseball
It would be SO Yankees to get him and pass on Soto.
I don’t see why the Yankees would want Benintendi when they have Carpenter. Carpenter bats left handed, plays the outfield and probably has a better arm than Benintendi (doesn’t everyone). Carpenter has more power than Benintendi this year. Benintendi has had a big drop in home runs this year.
Benintendi would balance out their lineup. Imagine this lineup going out there:
1) DJL (R)
2) Benny (L)
3) Judge (R)
4) Rizzo (L)
5) Stanton (R)
6) Carpenter (L)
7) Torres (R)
8) Hicks (L)
9) Catcher
And that leaves Donaldson, IKF and Gallo on the bench. They would be a wrecking machine at the plate with this lineup, but the IF defense would be a little challenging. This would mean Torres @ SS and Carp @ 2nd or 3rd base (DJL playing the other spot), but they could do this from time to time. They’d have the deepest bench in baseball too.
Carpenter needs a blood test no way this guy isn’t on some PED. Last year 160avg 3hr something fishy going on
A wrecking crew? Only hitter other pitchers would fear is judge otherwise it’s a lineup full of 3 outcome players and hicks who is just terrible at this point in his career. Hardly a top offense in mlb
Dorothy – Torres at SS is a show is stopper. Yanks seem in love with batting Judge 2nd. Not sure if Benintendi is over rated but I agree he would be a nice piece for the Yankees if he were vaccinated. Three games in Toronto maybe not that big of a deal but teams more than likely meet in the playoffs when it would be a big deal.
Benni has a gold glove though. Perhaps there’s something in the water at Kauffman Stadium that creates gold glove winning left fielders?
Anyone who is alive and has arms has a stronger arm than Carpenter.
Venus de Milo has a better arm than Carpenter.
Last time I looked, George Steinbrenner is still dead.
The Bombers have another visit to Toronto at the end of September and they wouldn’t want to be short one outfielder when they’re going for best record in the majors.
If this isn’t fluff i bet he got the first dose after seeing his chances decrease to a high contending team.
If he is that desperate to go to a contending team. Maybe he just wants to rake in a no pressure situation and get paid this off season.
I’m not thrilled about the Yankees potentially trading for Benintendi. However, if it means they’re doing so to save their bigger prospects for a Castillo trade, it would be alright
Does anyone actually know wtf is going on ? Last week they didn’t want him cuz he’s anti vaxer now they love him
He’s awake!!! Let’s get him.
Samuel I know you can’t see this but let me clue you in. Last week reported by John Heyman. This is Mark Fiensand. Huge difference.
Samuel living rent free in fat joes head
Beni and Barlow ..the B&B Boyz! (M&M NYY reference) on a plane to San Diego.. Lets Go!
From reading these boards recently, Yankees fans would have you believe that they can acquire all of Soto, Castillo, Contreras, Robertson and Nintendo AND still keep their top prospect(s). I wish I could bottle their disappointment when they acquire none of them. Only thing better would be the tears of the children if Braves fans!
First of all, Yankees fans aren’t one person. Therefore there will be many different thoughts on who they should aquire. I haven’t seen anyone calling for Contreras “recently”. And I don’t think a Nintendo is going to help much.
13 years and counting stankee fans can only hope and pray they actually make moves to close the gap with the Astros/dodgers
Why don’t you “put it” you know where with your Trolling…..take a look at current records Troll and tell all of us Yankee fans how bad the team is….and look at their playoff record over the last 20 years and tell us who matches that….of course we all know that they haven’t won the WS in 13 years but your bull should take it walking!
Lol your tears taste so good rocky. This isn’t 2009 but hey maybe next year probably not.
Oh forgot to mention 1.5 game lead. 1.5 lead if you think that’s big then you don’t actually watch baseball it’s not even august yet Yankees will not finish #1 seed you heard it here first. Suck it rocky
Yankees have been terrible in the playoffs since 2009 is that why you want to go back 20 years? Why not 25? Or maybe 45? Get a grip loser quit living the past
I was thinking it would make sense for the Yankees to take on the Corbin contract to help get Soto, but then I looked at Corbin’s numbers. He has a 6.02 ERA and a 4.60 FIP. I doubt he would do good in the AL East.
Better defense drops his era by 1.5 runs. Throw in the cliche of a change of scenery and maybe he makes adjustment. Wasn’t too long ago he would be a 1-3 on every team in mlb
Corbin has been pretty bad in the 20, 21, and now the 22 seasons and most of his problems have not been the defense behind him….he wasn’t all that hot pre 2020 either to warrant that contract…..now the Nat’s want somebody else to pay for their bad decisions……hope the Yankees offer a big NO!
I love how the Astros have the Yankees scared and trying to make every move possible. If it weren’t for 2 meltdowns in the 9th inning the Astros would be undefeated against the Yankees this year. Come on evil empire 2009 was a really long time ago you can’t steroid your way to championships anymore
So you’re saying that Houston’s earlier trip to the WS was also BS as Roger Clemons and Andy Petite were on that team?
Ha! SteaknBeer is not the brightest. However, you should remember one simple thing: don’t feed the trolls.
Not the brightest is being very kind!
Perhaps this is Cashmen playing 3D chess to drive down the price for Soto?
Interesting thought.
Nope Yankees suck nothing happening they’ll lose again in the playoffs and then it will be 14 years since their last title
Wow, the Yankee Trolls are out with many of these brainiac comments! Just jealousy that Yankee fans always have to put up with.
Picking up Benintendi would allow them to concentrate on acquiring a starter and possibly another key receiver which they probably need with King gone for the year…..and Beni is a keep the line moving guy which they’ll need in the playoffs.
Haha so Yankees hate on every thread is okay but when it’s a Yankees thread it’s a big deal. Suck it rocky you whiny little bi*ch
Won’t go after Soto if this happens
yuck! Please don’t trade him to the Stankees! I’m OK with trading him to the Brewers Padres even the Dodgers or Phillies but not the Stankees!
Not long ago people were insisting that since Jon Heyman claimed the Yankees were out it had to be true. They would put a vaccination status above and beyond their desire to win baseball games. More bunkum from out of touch Heyman.
It’s not crazy to think that the Yankees will have to play the Blue Jays in Toronto during the playoffs. Would be nice if they had their full lineup when that happens.
Just give Andujar a chance we all know he’s in a good shape.
So the Yankees could swing both Judge and Soto contracts? Or is it one for the other?
One or the other. Hal ain’t spending that kinda money. BTW it’s going to be Judge. Ken Rosenthal is reporting Washington has set a sky high price and aren’t coming off of it. Supposedly they are asking for 4 or 5 of a team’s top young players.
I believe they’re going to use the next couple weeks to feel out the market, but there will be no deal.
The Yankees could afford both Judge and Soto for the next two years by not offering Soto an extension. He still won’t be cheap, but they won’t be paying him $40 million a year either.
Most likely they do a Benentendi deal if they go big, it would be on Castillo.
About the Castillo trade: the Athletic had an article about trade scenarios with the beat writers offering trades for Keith Law to judge.
The Yankees beat writer Lindsay Adler offered this
The trade: Oswald Peraza, Randy Vasquez, Miguel Andújar for Luis Castillo.
Law’s verdict: I think this depends a lot on what the Reds think of Vasquez. He’s got a wide range of outcomes, but I know some scouts who really like him and see a future mid-rotation starter. If the Reds see that, they’d probably do this.
If that can get it done I’d be all over it.
LOL. Not sufficient. No one wants Andujar. I’m not saying we need to give up Volpe or Dominguez for Castillo (though honestly, we might need to give up 1 of them). But either way, you’ll need to give up more than the package you mentioned there.
It’s not like Keith Law is some random idiot. He’s a well respected talent evaluator and knows his stuff. What he says carries some weight.
Castillo and Benintendi would be improvement. I don’t love Benintendi as a player, but his skillset will improve the Yankees lineup and provide more balance. Gallo was supposed to do that until he forget how to hit. Castillo is an obvious improvement. If nothing else, it will keep him away from some team they might face in the postseason.
@Joe, I would too.
You really like Joe don’t you. Maybe he’ll let you give him a little kiss
Yes
Hey- remember that post from Steve Adams saying there was no way the Yanks would get him because of the vaccine article published by SI?
Yeah. You’re a joke Steve. Can you idiots over there on MLBTR fire this poor excuse for a human please?
They fired Zach links but I think Steve is a bit higher up
Stankees don’t count your chickens yet for being the number 1 seed. You had a huge lead a month ago, after the Astros just won its now down to 2 games back plus they hold the tie breaker. Love how everyone talks about the Yankees but nothing about the Astros.
Stankees? What are you 12?
It’s as bad, maybe worse, than the term Red Sux. The problem is you’re likely dealing with a 52-year-old. as opposed to a 12-year-old!
Sorry let me more like you Joe. Blah blah blah I’m a crybaby blah blah blah trash stros blah blah blah. Eat it fat Joe stankees suck 1.5 game lead in the AL over the Astros
When’s the last time the Yankees beat the Astros in a game that actually matters ?? Regular season doesn’t count
Yankees suck Yankees suck Yankees suck. With how big a lead they had in the AL will this be the biggest collapse since the Mets epic collapse? No way Yankees win the AL this year, probably don’t even make it to the ALCS
Would rather see them call up Florial. He can play CF, is a better hitter, and has a higher ceiling than Benintendi. The latter can’t play CF and has no power. A weak hitting corner OF is journeyman and belongs on teams like the Royals. That’s why the Bosox traded him for Franchy.
Heh, so now the moderators wipe out any posts criticizing the moderators. Must feel great to have that tiny amount of power. Go ahead, Mods, wipe this one out, it’s only meant for you anyway. Cowards.