Left field is something of a question mark for the Astros, but the team might be looking to fill the position with a former Gold Glover. Houston has had some discussions with free agent Andrew Benintendi, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports.
With Jose Abreu already acquired and Rafael Montero re-signed, adding Benintendi would be the Astros’ latest step towards fortifying their roster for another World Series bid. The team was already known to be looking for a left-handed hitting corner outfielder, to add both a bit more balance to a mostly right-handed lineup, and to provide more assurance in left field. Should an everyday player like Benintendi be signed, Jake Meyers would likely split time with Chas McCormick in center field, while Yordan Alvarez might see the occasional game in left field but would continue to primarily work as the designated hitter.
Benintendi wouldn’t come cheap, as MLBTR projects the 28-year-old to land a four-year, $54MM deal. This price point factors in Benintendi’s relatively young age as he enters the free agent market, as well as a skillset that makes him a pretty safe bet to be a productive (if not necessarily a star) player going forward.
Being “only” a productive player seems like a respectable middle ground for Benintendi, who looked like a potential superstar early in his career with the Red Sox but then almost like a lost cause in the wake of a brutal 2020 season. Benintendi rebounded with solid showings with the Royals and Yankees the last two seasons, moving to New York at the trade deadline before his season was ended by hamate bone surgery in early September.
This isn’t to say that Bentenindi might not yet have another breakout ahead of him, especially if he can turn around his drastic power dropoff in 2022. Even without much pop, Benintendi still had a 122 wRC+ and a .304/.373/.399 slash line over 521 plate appearances last season. A .352 BABIP aided that production, but Benintendi did an excellent job of taking walks, avoiding strikeouts, and putting the ball in play. Combining that offensive profile with above-average defense and solid baserunning made for a 2.8 fWAR season for Benintendi in 2022, the second-highest fWAR total of his seven MLB seasons.
The Astros have just under $198MM in luxury tax commitments for 2023, so if Benintendi was signed to something in the range of that projected $13.5MM average annual value, Houston would still have plenty of room under the $233MM tax threshold to make further moves. Owner Jim Crane recently said that the Astros “certainly have the ability to go at or over” the threshold, and spending on multiple players (Abreu, and perhaps at least one of Benintendi or Willson Contreras) might be more of a preferable strategy than splurging on a short-term, high-AAV deal on Justin Verlander.
Looks like it is either him or Uncle Mike. I’d take Benni and they win another ring.
BLA BLA
All Astro hitters have to score high on hearing tests.
You need to be able to hear the loud bangs through the crowd noise if you want to play in Houston.
HAHA love this original take! Make sure to screenshot it so you can show your mom!
Perhaps the A’s can finally get past the Astros if they bang on trash cans.
I like when Houston played Oakland in 2021 when the A’s won the division , then got blown out by Houston in the playoffs, then blew up their team. Good times!
Only banging is between the ears of Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers fans.
Sorry, I can’t hear you.
I’d rather have Conforto for 1 year if the Astros are going to sign Contreras.
Conforto could log innings in LF/CF/DH and Contreras could log innings at DH/C/1B.
Astros over here looking like Jim Carey when he’d put on the Mask? Somebody stop me!
THATLL DO PIG JFC
I like Benintendi for either Texas team to play LF.
Halos can take him.
They got Renfroe
They need all they can get Rsox
“ an excellent job of taking walks, avoiding strikeouts, and putting the ball in play.”
I love this kind of offensive profile. Unfortunately, the Braves don’t.
Don’t feel bad. Chaim Bloom didn’t like it either and traded him off for garbage and lottery tickets.
He’d be a perfect fit hitting between Acuna and Riley and give them possibly the best defensive OF in baseball
They got slightly burned on Ozuna, trade went well, extension wasn’t as good for the money. My guess is Benny will want too many years for the braves comfort level. I’m not sure even 4yrs gets him.
If I’m not mistaken, ATL has some guy named Harris playing CF. Where does Benintindi fit on?
Oh, I don’t know, Left field. There are 3 players in the outfield these days.
If I’m not mistaken, ATL has some guy named Harris playing CF. How does Benintindi fit in?
If you’re gonna be a smart mouth, at least be smart first.
A bit frustrating as an M’s fan to hear the teams we are chasing talking about $233 million as the cap when our owner is out here acting like $133 mill is a tough pill to swallow.
(Yes, Oakland..I see you getting ready to enter the chat…)
Seattle once lead the league in attendance and would be in the top 10 easily every year if they were contenders. I don’t understand why we act like we are on such a restricted budget
Crane has been restrictive on budget for the Astros too, refusing to go over the tax line. But this offseason he’s flush with postseason revenue and is playing GM so not like a usual Astros offseason.
The Astros have been restrictive in payroll the last two off seasons, where GMs could not go over the tax threshold, this offseason could be an outlier with Crane posing as GM (for now, hopefully) and flush with postseason revenue.
Investigate the size or market and tv contract. Youll see the inequity.
Astros aiming at putting 2/3 of revenue into payroll…SEA less than half and they were about down to about 1/4 for a few years.
Astros revenue: $388 mill
Seattle Revenue $313 mill
Astros team value 1.98 billion
Seattle: 1.7 Billion
And this is with the Astros in the middle of their franchise high water mark and potential dynasty in the making and Seattle at the end of 20 year playoff drought.
source: sports.yahoo.com/mlbs-most-valuable-franchises-hea…
These are 2021 numbers. World Series victory increased both 2022 revenues and value. Having said that Astros tax payroll each of the last 5 years has been $200M+ and Crane did go over tax threshold a couple of years ago. This despite getting a raw deal in TV contract the first 5 years he owned them ( still a lawsuit to be resolved vs prior ownership).
bearproof;
Wow!
That’s what the financial experts at Yahoo say, huh?
I believe everything they write. Facebook. Google. All the Silicon Valley biggies. They know the truth about everything, and are only too happy to share it with us.
I also pick up all the magazines on the racks at the checkout stands at the market. They know the truth about everything also!
Samuel, your data is really compelling.
Samuel instead of mocking bearproofs post – how about you do some work and provide a link with data that contradicts what bearproof was saying. The internet is your friend
Exactly Riff, exactly.
riffraff;
Uhhh..how do I do that?
Why do I care to?
I’d no more waste my time proving the Kardashians put out a bunch of stuff that people think is true to make themselves money.
Why aren’t you asking bearproofs where Yahoo got their information from? Duh.
I can verify Astros revenue figure as correct. HOU is flush with cash after winning the WS.
Samuel: muted
Soooo – you can’t disprove yahoo’s data?
Is there anyone the Astros aren’t interested in?
I think just Correa.
Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.
They’re clearly looking at all available options to win their 2nd legitimate WS trophy in 2023.
*third
The sign stealing one isn’t legitimate
2017 is most definitely legit. If they were the only ones doing it, you’d be correct. But it’s well known that they weren’t the only team – hell they weren’t even the first team to come up with it.
Houston blatantly and egregiously cheated. They also won the WS. They also got just a slap on the wrist. Don’t make excuses.
Until mlb says it isn’t legit & strips it from them it’s legit. Your opinion is just that. They will be competing for their 3RD championship next year whether you like it or not. Keep whining,they’ll keep winning.
Other than Boston and NYY, can you provide that list please?
MLB is run by a bunch of panty wastes that don’t have the cajones to do what’s right.
According to John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and others, at least 15 other teams were doing the same thing, another MLB pitcher said EVERY team was cheating in similar ways. The Astros were told to take one for MLB and they did for whatever stupid reason, heck the entire thing came from the Yankees with Carlos Beltran.
StroDawg – cope and seethe. 2017* will forever be tainted…no amount of mental gymnastics will justify that.
steven st cuck- only thing you got right was including that asterisk
I don’t care what they say, I want proof and teams. Anything else is hearsay and garbage until proven otherwise.
Givinmorehead You need to take your own advice & cope with the fact that there will never be an asterisk by their championship other than in your own naive feeble mind thinking they were the only ones cheating.
StroDawg basically- “EvErYbOdY eLsE cHeAtEd So ThAt MaKeS iT oK!!!!!!! Reeeeeeeee!!!!!”
3rd in 7 years
jjd002 – what was your favorite MLB team before you decided to become a Houston bandwagon fan that ignores the fact that 2017’s title was as legitimate as Barry Bonds’ late career power surge?
Did the Astros winning in 2022 upset you?
Actually no. They deserved it. Put together a great team and won convincingly (unlike your cuck 2017* squad).
Happy Dusty Baker finally won a WS as a manager.
That’s good!.
Hey goastros123 I apologize for being nasty to you in the past buddy I hope you have a wonderful holiday season
Thanks, you too. Water under the bridge, my friend. It’s all good.
Also, don’t tell anyone but Jeff Bagwell was my other favorite player growing up aside from Don Mattingly lololol
Haha. Unfortunately, I was too young to both watch and fully appreciate the Killer B’s when they were in their prime. Truthfully, 2017 was the first time I ever got to see a team I like it when it all. As much as 2017 meant to me, I knew 2022 would mean so much more to others like Trey Mancini, Dusty Baker, and so on. If I had the power, I would’ve given up that tainted championship in heartbeat if it meant the other fans got to experience the joy of seeing their favorite team win it all the right way. Luckily, they did.
By other fans, I mean other Astros fans.
Enjoy it. Best team in baseball period rn and perhaps for several more years.
You’re just wrong dude. Give it up. Astros are a great team dynasty and the Astros are not my team (White Sox). I wish my team was anything like the Astros.
Whatever helps ya sleep at night Yankees fan.
Marginal upgrade for such a sizable investment. I’d rather hold out for Unc ❤️
Uncle Mike may not be healthy for half the year and is no where near as good of a defensive player as Benintendi. Health, youth, defense, and production all point to Benintendi being an upgrade.
Fully agree. Benintendi is a younger Brantley
Not even close
Why is “Uncle Mike” Brantley’s nickname in Houston? Is there a story behind it?
In Cleveland he was known as “Dr. Smooth” for his sweet swing.
Came from Springer. They were two peas in a pod. Lived near each other. Hung out. Rode to the ballpark together everyday. Even had to help each other fix a flat tire one day – took both of ’em to figure it out.. Brantley’s wife shot video of it. Their HR celebration was based on that day. Spinning lug wrench, take the tire off, etc. Springer hung that moniker on him and once the media and fans got a hold of it, well the rest is history. He was also referred to as Dr Smooth once in a while, but not much.
When Brantley 1st joined the Astros in 2019 they were fairly young & as the older vet George Springer said Brantley was just like this awesome uncle & gave great advice & tips, & thus Uncle Mike was born
This may have Benintended consequences.
Just how Andrew it up
Dodgers should sign him for that kinda money.
Just what we need.
I couldn’t agree more. The man keeps the line moving – a perennial .300 hitter who is not streaky. I like it when people complain he doesn’t hit enough HRs. I’m sure their opinion of Tony Gwynn is, “Yeah, he was a nice player, but he just didn’t hit enough dingers…….and BA is an antiquated statistic.”
He reminds me a lot of Nick Markakis, he’s a solid hitter but lacks power to be a cornerstone piece. At an estimated $13-$14 mil a year I’d pass, feels like the type of player a mediocre team signs to a 5 year deal to say they did something during a rebuild. I’m guessing the Reds pay him $90-$100 mil.
Astros would be better off going for one of the young Arizona outfielders for the long term. But looks like Crane is gonna spend $$$ like a drunken sailor before a GM comes on board to tap on the brakes.
Can he still run ? With speed being unleashed perhaps with the drastic shifts ending, can he still steal bases ? 60 million ? No way, perhaps that is okay if he was still running, Cabrera had 10 double to his 23, and Miguel’s knee’s are shot. Well, we’ll see, but that seems like a lot for the Astros who still need to see how much of Abreu’s power is still there. Another singles hitter with the Astros can’t hurt them.
Would love this.
I say no to Bennytendi. Get anime
Braves need Benintendi if they lose Swanson
He’s a very mediocre little ball player at best
Based on Rizzo, the Yankees will panic and overpay 10D.