January 3: The White Sox have officially announced the Benintendi signing and provided a specific contract breakdown. The outfielder will receive a $3MM signing bonus, followed by an $8MM salary in 2023, $16.5MM for the next three years and then $14.5MM in 2027. The club’s 40-man roster is now at 39.
December 16: The White Sox have agreed to a five-year contract with free-agent outfielder Andrew Benintendi, reports ESPN’s Jesse Rogers (via Twitter). Benintendi, a client of Excel Sports Management, will be guaranteed $75MM on the contract, tweets Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Benintendi, 28, was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Red Sox and ranked as the sport’s No. 1 prospect at Baseball America, ESPN and MLB.com prior to his big league debut. The runner up to Aaron Judge for American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2017, he turned in a brilliant .290/.366/.465 batting line with 18 home runs and 21 steals a year later in 2018, seemingly setting the stage for him to break out into full blown stardom.
That never really transpired, however. Four full seasons have gone by since that time, and Benintendi has instead settled in as a solid regular in left field but not the perennial All-Star he looked to be early in his big league tenure. He’ll typically hit for average, draw plenty of walks and play good defense — Benintendi won a Gold Glove in 2021 — but he’s never settled in as a consistent power threat. Benintendi’s 20 home runs in 2017 still stand as his career high, and he hit just five home runs in 521 plate appearances between the Royals and Yankees in 2022 before a fractured hamate in his wrist ended his season.
Over the past four seasons, Benintendi has posted a combined .276/.345/.417 batting line with 35 home runs and 27 steals. He’s always been tough to strike out, but never more so than in 2022, when he fanned in just 14.8% of his plate appearances. It’s possible Benintendi took a more conservative, contact-oriented approach that resulted both in him hitting fewer home runs but also putting the ball in play with more frequency. Regardless, the lack of punchouts likely appealed to a White Sox club that posted the seventh-lowest strikeout rate in all of baseball last year and watched as the Guardians won the AL Central with by far the game’s lowest strikeout rate.
A corner outfielder and left-handed bat to help balance out a heavily right-handed club were both clear needs for the South Siders, and Benintendi can check both boxes. He’ll hit at or near the top of the lineup, with Eloy Jimenez like sliding into a primary DH role now that Benintendi is on board. The Sox also bid farewell to stalwart first baseman Jose Abreu this offseason, which cleared the way for Andrew Vaughn to move from right field, where he ranked as one of MLB’s worst defenders at any position, to his natural position of first base.
Removing Vaughn and Jimenez from regular outfield work would’ve improved the outfield defense regardless of the replacements, but plugging Benintendi into the mix provides a substantial upgrade. In 5775 career innings in left field, he’s been credited with 32 Defensive Runs Saved. It’s notable that Statcast’s Outs Above Average feels quite differently, pegging Benintendi at -15 in that same time, although that’s skewed by one -10 season in 2019 (a season that DRS agrees was below average from a defensive standpoint). Benintendi and center fielder Luis Robert give the Sox a pair of above-average defenders in the outfield, although if the plan for right field is to use Gavin Sheets as a bridge to prospect Oscar Colas, at least one of the three outfield spots will still have the potential to be a defensive liability.
The White Sox opened the 2022 season with a club record $193MM payroll, and the addition of Benintendi figures to put them right back into that range again. Benintendi also pushes Chicago’s luxury-tax ledger a bit north of $205MM, per Roster Resource, though that’s still $28MM from the $233MM first tier of penalization. The Sox could still use help at second base and could stand to deepen their bench, so it’s likely that subsequent moves will push the team to a franchise-record payroll for a second season (barring a trade that sheds a current contract).
Somewhat remarkably, the $75MM guarantee gives Benintendi the largest contract in White Sox franchise history, narrowly topping Yasmani Grandal, who’d held the record at $73MM. The ChiSox have offered more than this in some high-profile free agent pursuits in recent years, most notably offering more than $200MM to Manny Machado and more than $100MM to Zack Wheeler. Both players, of course, ultimately signed elsewhere.
Yankees could have done this.
Totally agree. But we still got Hicks right !!
JJ – At least the Yanks didn’t trade him at Age 26 with two more years of team control for a package highlighted by Franchy Cordero and Josh Winckowski.
What a horrific trade it’s turning out to be.
Honestly, it was a gamble. I personally didn’t care for Benintendi so I was okay with the trade. Cordero didn’t work out but it was a gamble. Winckowski we still don’t fully know… maybe it hasn’t worked out but I was okay with the gamble.
What I’m not okay with is how easily Bloom contradicts himself by DFAing Hosmer so easily…
@pwndroia- I wrote a question about that on the post before this about Hosmer going to the Cubs. Everyone keeps saying “the Padres will pay everything but the league minimum” but since the Red Sox actually traded for Hosmer doesn’t that mean that per the stipulations in the contract they are still required to pay Hosmer the league minimum throughout the entire contract? I’ve never heard of a team trading for a player and then backing out of their financial commitment by releasing him. They still agreed to pay Hosmer that much in the trade. And now the Cubs are going to pay Hosmer the league minimum too. So really, outside of opening up a roster spot, all releasing Hosmer does is save the Padres twice as much money because the Red Sox still have to pay him $2.16 million over the next three years since that’s what they agreed to in the trade, right?
@Steve, the minimum Red Sox were on hook for will b negated by any team signing Hosmer. Rest of contract still falls on Padres.
@Nebraska You never know with Bloom, this guy is ridiculous. He’s turned over so many guys, it makes him look bad.
Not only Hosmer, but he sold high on Jeter Downs, DFA’d him, sold high on Cordero, DFA’d him. He acquired Hoy Park and DFA’d him in less than a month.
Additionally, he let’s guys go and signs replacements for not much less. JD Martinez left and we replace him with Justin Turner. Same with Story over Bogaerts, just different years. I prefer Kluber to Hill, but you could make an argument there. He just keeps changing chemistry with different guys.
I still haven’t figured out Bloom and whether he’s legit or just messing around.
You appear to be correct about the $2.16M. What a sh!tty trade. Gave up $2.16M+ and Jay Groome for 12 games of Hosmer. Jay Groome may not be anything but a future relief pitcher even though he was drafted as a 1st rounder (12th I think), but I think he will pan out – and the RS got nothing. . spotrac.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/yearly/payroll/
I haven’t figured out what you mean about selling high on Downs. He sold low. Selling high is what you WANT a GM to do.
@soxshortstop: Thanks for that link. It actually looks more like 2.22+ million I think there is a possibility that the Cubs have to pick that up now though and spotrac just hasn’t adjusted because the acquisition is so new. It remains to be seen but that’s why I was curious. We will see! I think if every team in MLB decides Hosmer is done that the Red Sox are still on the hook for the prorated portion of that money though as soon as he’s gone. We will see though. I was just very curios though.
Six more years of team control of Winckowski could turn out really nicely. We’ll have to wait and see but considering the cost of Benintendi over the next five years, that trade may turn out to be very good for the Red Sox.
What made the Hicks deal awful wasn’t the money, but the years. IMO, Cash wanted to bring 10D back on a shorter deal. I hope it’s a sign that stubborn ‘ol Cash actually learned his mistake from the Hicks deal. You don.t commit 5 years to mediocre players, never mind the seven they gave Hicks.
Great move. He will bat 310. Putting him after Tim anderson. Two top of the order really good hitters.
Followed by Robert makes three really good hitters at the top.
Robert’s extra-curricular activities will keep him out of the lineup.
? Did I miss how he hurt his wrist?
Hes been hanging out with Tatis.
What does that mean?
Tatis was in a motorcycle accident and hurt his wrist.
He’ll have a higher average than he ever has?
Don’t stop now, boys!!!
Finally!!! Hahn finally had his hands untied by Reinsdorf and spent a ton of money (in wsox speak) for an actual talented player that the team needed. Now, where is our second baseman?
Yeah no. Don’t see him improving on his career bests while playing for the White Sux.
Good move for the Sox, was hoping the Braves would have been in on this & replace the village idiot in left (bOZoUNA)
Benintendi may actually lead off due to his high OB %!
Word is he didn’t want to play in NY. He preferred a smaller market.
Hi Joe
So he picked the tiny market of Chicago?
Flew—-I think he meant he didn’t want to play in front of crowds over 14,000.
Think we all know playing for the White Sox isn’t anything like playing in NY.
The White Sox are second class citizens behind the Cubs in Chicago so in that respect it is a “small market” compared to New Yourk
So would that make the Mets a small market team too?
Not with the massive highway system leading in and out of Long Island and all points from Queens. It was built for the World’s Fair.. Its the biggest stage in the world. No small market. It has its own airport.
Whatever market, both Chicago teams have won a World Series in the last 20 years. The New York teams have not.
The 2009 Yankees would like a word from 13 years ago.
Smack em smacky
cruel.
but fair.
@hiflew, technically, it is smaller than NY!
What does that have to do with the topic?
To be fair, they averaged 24k last season. Not the 30-38k he would be playing in front of in NY.
In the 16 full seasons since their only WS appearance the White Sox have made it to the playoffs twice. Even the Angels are not that pathetic.
Prior to their World Series run the Barves hadn’t won a playoff series since 2001.
Steroids
“Prior to their World Series run the Barves hadn’t won a playoff series since 2001.”
Braves beat the Reds and Marlins in the Covid shortened season playoffs. They blew that 3-1 series lead vs the dodgers in the NLCS that year.
COVID year doesn’t count for anything.
The Yankees have spent tens of millions more than the Angels for the same number of 21st century WS titles. Who is the more pathetic team?
White Soxs don’t get the same attention as the Cubs do in Chicago, so the team is actually a small market team in a big city…
The team with fewer profits is “more pathetic”. At the end of the day a successful business is a profitable business with or without WS titles.
“Wait, what I’m wrong?….Na-uh, I’m
still right, because I said so.”
Nothing like the MLBTR comments section for a good laugh…Never fails..
Interestingly not only the Angels, but also the Diamondbacks, Marlins, White Sox, and Royals
Winning teams usually get attention. Maybe the White Sox should try that.
correct, and it is apparent when the majority of real Yankees fans, don’t care about Mets news, nor wish ill will. its the complete opposite for Mets fans.
You must have went to school in Mississippi.
Yankees won in 2000 and 2009. Twice this Century. Third to only Boston and SFG.
@Joe- According to SI.com, that isn’t the case at all.
google.com/amp/s/www.si.com/mlb/yankees/.amp/news/…
It’s very possible. But it could also be he didn’t want to eliminate the Yankees from the bidding. And I should have been more clear that it’s not that he didn’t like playing for the Yankees as much as he didn’t particularly like living in NYC.
@Joe, yes. No player will want to eliminate the Yankees from bidding, or at least the perception they’re bidding. I do believe they had an interest in bringing Benintendi back, but I know Jack Curry mentioned they Yankees weren’t sure Benintendi wanted to return.
My belief is the Yankees intend to solve LF through a trade. This makes that more likely.
That’s what I’m thinking Rob. Hoping for an Arizona OFer but expecting Kepler.
They can have IKF pack in a Kepler swap!
Chicago is third biggest city in the country. No my, but not a small market. Chicago also hosted a World’s Fair. Big enough for that. The perception that the wsox are the second team in Chicago is down to a number of factors. First, the media has always covered the cubsmore than the Sox. When Bill Veeck owned the Sox, he kept track of the media covered age of both teams. The cubs had twice as much than the Sox. Second, Wrigley field. If the cubs ever moved out of that band box, their attendance would drop significantly. Yes, they have their fans, but I would bet that most of the cub’s “fans” go there to sit in the bleachers and drink til the drop. Cubs fans like the Cubbies before they’re cute. It’s fun to take pity on those “Loveable Losers” which, despite 2016, they still are. The real bb fans can be found at WSox park. These are things Chicago s know while those who haven’t lived here for very long ride along the media wave and follow the Cubbies.Native Chicagoans, those who follow bb, know the Sox have been the best team in the city for a number of years now.
Knoxville, Tennessee also hosted a World’s Fair. But if MLB expanded there, I don’t think it would be considered a big market.
If you go to a White Sox game you have to drink because the team is regularly awful and the ballpark is worse.
There is rarely “real baseball” at Sell Your Soul Field or whatever it is called now.
This century 2001-2022
Cubs – 8 playoff appearances
Sox – 4 playoff appearances
That’s precious avenger….”the Sox have been the best team in the city for a number of years now.” Since two is technically a number and it make years a plural you are right.
Cubs 1738 wins
White Sox – 1714 wins
Cubs have been the better team in Chicago.
Band box? Wrigley has a neutral park factor nearly every year. Pornhub park on the south side is the band box .
Avenger nailed it. Born a Cub fan when I lived in the burbs but once you move into the city after school and discover the pulse of the city, a working class town, you gravitate towards the Sox. You forgot the part about the Cub attendance peaking in the summer due to the abundance of trixies, high school kids from the suburbs and rednecks from corn country, the ones who directed Aunt Jemima comments at a respected Sun Times city reporter, and hurled racist inventive at the likes of Doug Glanville, Kosuke Fukudome, and Latroy Hawkins- while they were all on the Cubs.
Another typical cubs fan can be found at nursing homes where sad old men sit staring with a cubs hat on their heads. Most of the cubs (fans know little about bb. It’s like studio 54. You don’t like disco, but it’s the current place to be.
@RobM. I mean you can make that assumption, but that would be true for any big market team.
You are deranged
You are mistaken
The Montreal Expos founded 2 years after were named for Expo 67 World’s Fair. That fair was so successful that it swayed MLB to expand into Canada.
Sound a lot like nonsense.
So we’ve established everyone’s hosted a World’s Fair. Some city needs to come up with and host a World’s Not Fair, cause more people would relate. Your move, Oakland…
that’s perfect!
Spokane Washington also hosted a worlds fair
I’m very down for a Jake McCarthy trade. He’s very promising
Heard yesterday that Alek Thomas is a lifetime Yankees fan and his dream is to play for the Yankees, according to his father. That’s pretty cool too!
Gotta get rid of Aaron Hicks though. He gets 10/5 rights this year.
Alek Thomas has quite the upside, spent his whole childhood in the Sox clubhouse catching fungoes and palled around with Ozzie, Konerko, Thome and Abreu. You’re getting a kid who has the confidence, makeup and toolset to succeed at the highest level. If he’s a bust, at least you’ve hired on a future Billy Beane
@avengers. Do you want to know why your comment is stupid? Because you have representatives from every team saying the same thing about whatever team you follow. But hey, at least you only said almost all, right? It’s good that you have that thin vineer between “all” and “almost all” because it’s all that separates you from that racist like thinking of “all (fill in the team name) fans are stupid.”
Just one that is smart enough to not play for the White Sox because he’s been around the team.
White Sox stadium is also in a rougher part of town.
I read the Yankees didn’t want to offer a 5 year deal.
@ForeverGiantsFan-Yes, if it was for 3 or 4 years the Yankees probably would of gotten it done. Benintendi is probably worth about $15-17 million a season.
Ya the minor league team in Chicago with no fans!
The Cubs page is on a different link…
Huh huh huh good one jr
But enough about the cubs.
No. The word is he wanted to play for Pedro Grifol.
Not for 5 yrs
Why would they? 75 mil for a sub .800 OPS? 15 career WAR at 28 years old? This dude is nothing special. I think the whitesox will regret this.
They spent enough money.
So as a Sox fan this is the move that’s supposed to make me excited? Cause it ain’t working. Lose Abreu, add Benintiendi isn’t moving the needle. I’d actually be more impressed if I heard they fired their whole Medical and training staff and replaced them with competent people would move the needle farther for me. They are the youngest and most injured team I’ve ever seen in my life. Where’s Herm Schneider when you need him.
And then there was one: Swanson.
Excellent move.
Hey! Andrew and the Sox should send a gift basket to AJ Pollock for making this all possible.
I liked AJ Pollock on the White Sox, but he struck out a lot. Usually I grant some grace period as he changed leagues, but Benintendi’s plate discipline could make a noticeable difference on the field this year. Go Sox!
3 o’clock central, time to sign all the deals apparently lol
Yeah! Grandal is no longer the largest contract in team history. At least that burden is lifted. Good move.
An even better move would be getting rid of grandal. I wonder if there is a statistic that measures how many runs a player costs his team.
This is a horrible pickup if they plan on using Benintendi in RF. If this signals a permanent move to DH for Eloy, then I like it for the Sox.
I think Benitendi would play left while Sheets and maybe Colas would platoon in right unless Hahn can sign another option. And where is our second baseman!?
great for the sox. it’s not like robert or eloy will play a full 162. filling holes
Eloy is likely the DH moving forward so maybe he will be healthier compared to seasons past. Robert is another issue entirely
That’s why I think Sheets goes no where, he’ll DH when (not if) Jimenez gets hurt.
Sheets probably opens the year in RF until Colas is ready and after that will see time at 1B/LF/RF/DH
if Sheets is hitting, he should be starting at 1st Base,
So if Sheets does something he hasn’t proven to do competently at the major league level, he is awarded 1st base, over a guy who clearly is competently handling major league pitching, in Andrew Vaughn. Makes sense.
Sheets is a 6’5 lefty, he’s a prototypical first baseman, and he is a big target for TA and Moncada, who need all the help they can get. Any infielder in the MLB would rather be throwing to Sheets, and with the new rules, teams will be running more, going to be more pickoff attempts, even with the limit, having a big target at first, and a lefty who is facing you instead of a righty who has his back to home plate is a big difference in all aspects of infield defense.
As far as hitting goes, Sheets has to hit to stay on the field, I think Sheets has the ability to be a good hitter with plus power, but he can be a great first baseman because of his size and his lefty glove.
The defensive difference Sheets provides over Vaughn is barely registerable, but the offense disparity is immense. Sheets is a bad defense corner OF on a bad team, an off the bench bat at best on a good team, and will be a platoon option in RF, 1st Base and DH to spell guys when they need a rest. He isn’t some 35-40 HR guy, like Schwarber, or some defensive wiz at 1st. He is a very Mediocre player that has been given an opportunity because he is 1) Homegrown 2) a Lefty 3) Doesn’t fall down in the outfield on his own
Sheets went .250/.325/.500 in 160 AB’s in 2021, I’d peg him as that kind of hitter capable of .250 BAA and an .800 OPS – pair that with being a top flight defensive first baseman and you have a pretty nice player.
Sheets being at first will make life easier for Moncada, Anderson and who ever starts at second base because he is a lefty, because he is 6’5, he’ll bring up the level of defense across the entire infield, when you’re throwing at a big target, and a lefty who is facing you broadly, it is easier to make that throw with confidence, and that confidence will reflect in your fielding too. Having a good first baseman in more important than hitting.
Players signing to avoid rush hour on a Friday night.
And they have Victor Reyes too??? World Series bound!
At least they didn’t sign Javier u know cause that would be stupid….
Solid deal. Basically his market value- no more, no less.
Yes an excellent move for the ChiSox!
They should make the MLB offseason more interesting. Free agents HAVE to sign by January 15th or something like that. Imagine the chaos
It used to be like that. If you missed the deadline, you couldn’t re-sign with your last team until May 1st. It forced players to sign elsewhere or sit out for a month. That and collusion pretty much cost Tim Raines the 1987 NL MVP Award. I still think he should have won it anyway, but…
MLB should have signing windows like the English Premier League has for transfer windows to sign players.
Would bring some excitement to certain months for MLB to be talked about more.
The MLBPA does not care if you are excited in the offseason, there is no way they’d agree to signing windows.
Not bad. Left/left. What has Jed done today?
Nice. Eloy needs to be a primary DH and this basically solidifies that.
Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! I can’t believe they actually signed someone that makes this team significantly better. Thought they had no money this off-season.
His 5 home runs will fit right in.
He wasn’t signed to hit HR’s. He was signed for defense and to get on base. With Eloy and Vaughn being replaced defensively by Benintendi and (likely) Colas, their OF defense can go from a weakness to a strength.
The outfield will now defensively rank with the best.
There were options for guys who played solid defense and provide power.
We’re underpowered across the diamond and now we’ve locked in the most power heavy position in baseball for five years with the least power possible. It might make sense if he was a speedster but he’s also another base clogged at first.
Yeah sure hyrax, he makes your Chisox “significantly better “? Really!! LOL.
Let’s hope this works out as well as The Grandal contract is working out for you.
Do you think that one made you significantly better, too?
The Cubs going to get their money’s worth out of Jason Heyward next season?
The Sox have now have guys at every single position other than 2b that either have hit 20 HRs in a season (Moncada, Jimenez, Grandal, Benintendi) or have the ability to (Vaughn, Anderson, Robert, Colas/Sheets). I don’t think the team lacks power, I think many of them just had down/injury-plagued years in 22. Even the in-house 2b options have hit that many in a minor league season (Gonzalez, Sosa), so the power is there, the defense is now better (OF at least, still issues at ss), and pitching is very good. Avoiding injuries will again be the issue.
His power basically evaporated last year but no reason he couldn’t hit for closer to career norm.
He is definitely moving to a hitters park.
The entire WS roster had no power last year. The RBI leader had 76 RBI. Getting rid of Menechino should help everyone’s numbers get resuscitated from last year’s coma.
Astros were 5th in SLG % last season. They had plenty of power.
WS = White Sox. No one is commenting on the Astros.
My mistake. I was thinking WS=World Series and since the Sox have no chance of going there in 2023 or any foreseeable season, I should have known you were not talking about the World Series.
If their entire team doesn’t get put on the IL, and they don’t all decide to be stricken with an acute case of power loss, they will be a MUCH better team in a bottom of the league division. Once in the post season, anything can happen.
You must be a chick, because only “chicks” dig the long ball as much as you. Benintendi is a contact hitter from the left side, who plays really good corner OF defense. These are the skills the Sox have missed the past 4=5 years.
You’re the bright one in the family?
The rest of the team hits HRs, their need was an OF hits left and gets on base.
Stick to wrestling genius.
sox were 22nd in homers last year. 18th in slugging. Power was their greatest deficiency. They hit for a high average with very little power and slow players clogging up the bases, so they didn’t score a lot of runs. The guy the signed is exactly the same. No power, no speed, doesn’t score or drive in a lot of runs. Slow singles hitter.
They let Abreu walk to help create some spending room. This signing now means its pretty much all spent. Don’t expect much more unless they trade a contract.
If a 2ish fwar player makes your team, “significantly better”…you have bigger problems.
Wow, after all this, the Yankees couldn’t match that deal?
Welp, we still need a left fielder…. Best of luck, Benintendi. It was fun while it lasted.
I heard last night that the Yankees didn’t want to go past 3 years for Benny. If that’s true, that’s probably the difference. Overall, I’m actually surprised that they acquired him for 5/$75M in this market.
Good deal though for the CHWSox. Excellent defender, good leadoff hitter, and high-contact guy.
I’m thrilled about it, especially since the Sox’ FO has been putting out word they weren’t going to be active on the FA market.
You should be Hyrax, he’s a fun guy to watch play, man. I really liked him on the Yanks. Hopefully this will be one of several moves they will make to start getting the necessary personnel for you. Although, I do think the White Sox are going to be a much different team if healthier this year too, obviously.
Nice to hear Yankee clipper, certainly lot of excitement in Chicago today
Yanks wouldn’t go past 3 years for an on base type, defensively strong OF with no injury history, but they will go 6 years for an SP with a long injury history who has never thrown over 180 innings in a season? If there was a book on the fundamentals of general managing someone should give it to Brian Cashman this holiday season.
I wouldn’t want 3 years either. Get as much guarantee as possible. Sox lucky it was only 5 years.
Oswaldo Cabrera had a 1.9 WAR in 44 games last year. He has more power, better speed, and a stronger arm than Benintendi. He doesn’t defend as well in the outfield yet because he’s been an infielder his whole career.
I would much rather give him the everyday job. Having a player with a much higher ceiling at the minimum salary is better than a known mediocre performer at a higher salary.
Money for Benetendi went to Judge for the 9th year. Get used to the surrounding cast being lessened.
Judge at 50 would have more power…
Stymee, I think the money for Judge came from a lot of different players that won’t be here, Benny included. With that said, the Gallo move makes me suspect a trade for Kepler is in the works. Who knows though?
Chaim was so close in bringing Benny back. He had the years right!!!! But total of $35M just wasn’t enough. Poor Chaim!
Pretty pretty reasonable deal.
Chaim could have had Benny back for cheaper than the Japanese guy they signed. Younger and better defender (by far!!!!)
I doubt Chaim wanted Benintendi back any more than Benintendi wanted to come back
Hmm, hard to believe such a mediocre player got 5yrs and 75M. I mean, do any Chicago fans think “Yeah! This is awesome!”. Sigh
Uhh, there are Sox fans that think is definitely a step in the right direction. They’ve needed a stable and productive corner OF for quite some time now. They also needed a hitter from the left side of the plate that can actually make contact more often than not. This fills both holes for the team in those areas.. Thinking otherwise shows a complete lack of baseball knowledge, you’re welcome.
Spot on!
I despise the vast majority of Sox posters and generally the team but this was a good signing.
Sounds like a personal problem. Most Sox fans I know, just care about winning baseball. It appears as if you’ve had different interactions, let me guess, a Cardinal or Cub fan?
Most Sox posters are moronic cubs trolls. I am sure you are fine.
Said the Cubs fan trolling the Sox…
Or someone that reads the comments on this site…
Sox fans on here seem to care more about making lazy “jokes” towards the cubs than they do about the WS.
Yeah, because Cubs fans never make “lazy” jokes about the White Sox.
Cubs fans take offense to things that make no logical sense. Any criticism about the do-nothing front office elicits an emotional response. $500MM+ revenues annually and they spend like the Savanna Bananas. The fanbase needs to wake up. And yeah, the Sox organization sucks too.
Trolling? I said it was a good signing but ok.
Savanna Bananas heh. Except going to those games are actually trendy. Ricketsville is populated by rednecks from corn country west, 8 Yr old kids, and European tourists. My cub fan friends who’ve had season tickets since ’15 now can’t give them away.
You also said nasty things as well.
After experiencing both ballparks multiple times, I would easily say Cub fans have not a clue. They dont even suspect anything baseball. Too many Old Style pounders at Cubby’s before the game.
Jon Jay is wishing he was in his prime and came up in a hype factory like Boston.
The White Sox already tried Jon Jay…. I really hope this is not Jon Jay 2.0
Jay might be the better player.
And you call Sox posters trolls?
Agree, it’s not much of an impact signing. Big overpay IMO but many will disagree. Upside of an aging nick markakis. Can’t see white Sox fans loving this in two years unless they’re okay with decent avg and OBP and not much else. Shouldn’t hurt but can’t see it helping that much.
If he has a ‘decent’ avg and OBP, and plays solid defense, it will be far more than the White Sox have had in a corner OF spot for about a decade now.
Trying to see how Benitendi is that much better than AJ Pollock. Yeah Pollock seems to be injury prone but perhaps an uptick in power. He also seems to have a stand-offish personality , but maybe it was because he wouldn’t sign the 5 balls and 10 baseball cards I shoved in his face.
That’s fair – if it fits the team needs, that’s all that matters… a poor man’s Jeff McNeil
How much have u watched of benny? It’s always funny reading cub n sox fans rip each other…..benny is very very solid all around player a big upgrade from last seasons production in lf no doubt
15 mill for him and 11 for gallo? Makes me feel good about all the mets signings.
Massive 2023 inflation of salaries began earlier this year when the Braves gave Charlie Morton $20M. Most of the other salaries make sense if Charlie Morton is worth $20M in 2023……….that if is probably not true…
I’m in favor of anything that prevents Leury Garcia from playing the outfield ever again.
It’s also a good reason for the White Sox to find their everyday 2B for 2023!
It’s about time they did something about the corner OF position. Benintendi can be the guy that stabilizes the position, and he hits from the left side, which the Sox definitely needed. Now, go out and sign either Segura or Drury and take care of 2nd base.
I think you mean Moncada. Grifol will help both of them.
Signing a second baseman is a possibility but so is bringing back Mendick. He can play defense and I’d like to see him get a chance to win the job.
Boring player. Did well in sleepy KC so good idea to stay in sleepiest division.
Wow. That’s $3 million per home run.
White Sox biggest issue last year was the lack of power.
Their aren’t words for my level of disappointment.
You can also lose games by dropping or not getting to fly balls, which was a huge problem last year. Or by getting owned by RHPs. Not everyone has to be a hulking slugger to be effective.
They’re losing Abreu, who was one of their best hitters vs RHP the past 3 years. Benintendi is a decent player but not Abreu’s equal offensively, or vs RHP. So adding AB doesn’t qualify as a year over year improvement to their issues against RHP.
One thing the White Sox have been successful at since 1990 is finding 1B who can rake. Frank Thomas began the streak. He was followed by Paul Konerko and ultimately Jose Abreu. I believe Andrew Vaughn will keep that line moving forward.
Wrong, Sox “biggest issue last year” was injuries. The entire lineup spent significant time on the DL. The only person who played the entire season, signed with the Astros.
The problem has been their offense, and poor fielding the past 3-4 years. They don’t hit enough HRs and strike out too much, especially against decent pitching. The injuries contributed to that, but even with everyone healthy they got rolled in the playoffs.
Their biggest problem is lack of production with RISP. Maddening!
Defense has been issue for the White Sox since their contention window finally opened in 2020. As for offense, that has mostly deteriorated due to injuries, poor health and some questionable veteran additions by GM Rick Hahn.
The White Sox were one of the top hitting teams in the shortened 2020 pandemic season, leading the AL in SLG while finishing 2nd in hits and BA. Those numbers were also negatively impacted by two failed preseason acquisitions in DH Edwin Encarnacion and RF Nomar Mazara to say nothing of Yoan Moncada who opened the season on the COVID IL and played ‘weak’ once activated after looking like a perennial AL All-Star and potential MVP candidate in 2019.
The White Sox offense began tailing off in 2021 but they still managed to rank among the better hitting AL teams finishing 4th in hits and BA, 5th in runs scored and 6th in SLG. That season saw the White Sox lose 3 young starters for the majority of the full 162 game schedule in CF Luis Robert (68 G), LF Eloy Jimenez (55 G) and 2B Nick Madrigal (54 G) due to injury. Hahn also continued his poor offseason additions with RF Adam Eaton and mid-season acquisition César Hernández to replace Madrigal at 2B.
Last season the projected starting lineup never happened with even more injuries affecting virtually everyone not named Jose Abreu. After making the postseason in 2020 and 2021, the AL Central favorites barely managed an 81-81 record and finished a distant 2nd to the Guardians. To me. the most disappointing player has been Moncada who has never come close to duplicating his promising 2019 season. He’s either too preoccupied with other extracurricular activities or is a victim of long COVID. Hahn continued to add veterans who had minimal impact like 2B Josh Harrison and OF AJ Pollock. He also decided that sticking two 1B, Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets into the corner OF mix was a good idea.
It should also be noted that berated coachFrank Menechino was the White Sox hitting instructor for each of those 3 seasons including 2020 and 2021 when they were productive. The White Sox have also made changes in their training staff the past two offseasons, Hopefully the changes made with the coaching and training staff this past offseason will bear more fruit when it comes to stats and the IL. If not, then it should be Hahn’s behind on the line next winter.
No power and all contact, but without the shift (of late). Maybe a .325/.380/.400 season this year? Seems a bit high in AAV, but at least it’s “only” 5 years.
Good point about the shift going away being good for contact hitters.
This is the first move the white Sox have made all winter. White Sox fans will praise Rick Hahn for this but if the cubs signed him for the same exact years and dollars. They would say “Dumpster divin’ Jed
The Sox signed SP Mike Clevinger 2 weeks ago, 1-year for $8 Million.
Forgot about him. Only their 2nd move*
It was $12MM for Clevinger.
Clevinger has something to say…
I just hope he says it with his arm, not his feet.
Sorry we hurt your feelings.
Delighted! Needed a lefty outfielder, one with a .304 BA and some speed is just the kind of “mediocre” we want. So much for Rick skipping the FA thing…
That deep dish pizza must have been the clincher
That’s a terrible thing to be the “clincher”. Plus he played for the Yankees. He already had new style pizza. And nothing beats that.
frozen pizza beats that…
Depends on the brand, but there is Gino’s East Deep Dish frozen pizza that’s really good. My go-to is a store brand, 5 cheese tombstone, and home run inn. Which is based out of Chicago.
So yes, most frozen pizza is better than deep dish pizza
NY and tombstone pizza are pretty much one and the same.
Definitely not. One is frozen the other way is not. How is it the same?
Cub fan here. I really like this signing for the White Sox. A “ put the ball in play” guy. Every team needs more guys like that.
Kid can play defense, too, but let’s keeping slagging him because he doesn’t hit dingers.
I mean it’s left field. He won’t hurt you I guess.
Quite polarizing fanbase. He’s average at best bc he has no power. He can only hit homeruns and does nothing else. He can do it all well but this contract will age poorly (but I wish my team would’ve signed him).
Was searching for the MLBTR story that had Hahn stating the White Sox would prioritize trading over free agent signings due to payroll constraints. November 9th. I commented how I didn’t see it. That the White Sox would sign a left handed starter like Quintana and a left handed hitter like Peralta. That they wouldn’t sign Rodon or Benintendi. Anyone predict Benintendi signing with the White Sox?
I had him returning to the Yankees…. Outside of Rodon, my prediction streak hasn’t been so hot the past week
Something tells me you have the Top 20 free agents signing with the Yankees based on your name 🙂
Haha nope. I had more sense than that, I assure you.
Thank you for taking my reply as the good natured joke it was from me, PinstripedPride.
You’re welcome
This is a solid signing for Chicago in a difficult OF market. Benintendi has his qualities, and there is some talent around him. Conforto might offer more upside, but considerably more risk as well.
Gruß,
BSHH
I think there is less risk in 1 year of conforto than 5 years of tendi
Financially you are certainly right. But I guess the White Sox wanted reliable production, which Benitendi will likely provide rather.
Gruß,
BSHH
Def thought he’d have been a lock to resign in the Bronx.
Slap hitter with no power or notable speed. He was the worst player in baseball in 2020 and fell sharply the year before that. His “revival” in KC was nothing more than a few slap singles making it through. 5 Years is crazy for this guy.
Excellent defender, good contact hitter, left handed bat, the “shift” going away next season and hitting ahead of Luis Robert in the lineup. Benintendi has a shot at .325-.330 with a .360-.385 OBP. I’d say that outweighs his HR hitting or SB numbers.
You’re going to be very disappointed. He hit hit 304 with a babip that was 30 points higher than his career average. Even if you think eliminating the shift will help, any gain from that is going to be wiped out simply by normal regression.
Or maybe a player in his prime has improved…
Couldn’t agree more with your assessment. He’s an Adam Eaton type player in his last year playing baseball.
Let me guess, either a Tigers or Cubs fan? Because the rest of baseball sees this as a solid pickup, which fills lots of holes in an otherwise playoff ready team. Maybe they’re all wrong, and you two geniuses are right.
I’m a fan of baseball since the early 60’s. You??
The White Sox are not a playoff ready team.. Not by a long shot.. Unless Cleveland has all of their pitchers on the DL next season. When the Sox show they can consistently be competitive against good pitching (especially in their own division) Then Ill start believing.. Until then… Not a play off ready team at this point.
Oh, you speak for the rest of baseball? Interesting.
@nrd I have to agree. I mean Benintendi replaces Abreu compared to what their roster was in 2022. Improves the defense, offense a bit weaker. I know they can get improvements from guys like Moncada and Grandal, and better health from others, but you are right. This is a decent team that could have been great if they added guys like Harper, Semien, Springer. They blew it by sitting on their hands, and will never have a championship level team because of it. They might win the Central but are a great bet for another playoff face plant.
Since 1963, 1976 Chicago White Sox batboy, born and raised in Comiskey park.
Read any pundit from the baseball world, you will not find ONE that says this is a bad pickup by the White Sox.
The Sox aren’t going to win the ALC in 2023. The Twins have added some good players and will make up for Correa’s 64 rbi. The Guards also improved their team. The have made three deals and only one will prove useful (Benitendi).
THEY LIVE!!!: I’ve been a fan of baseball since the mid 1970’s. I’m more in agreement with MikeBayne’s assessment. Benintendi (imo) is a solid player who fills multiple issues for the C-Sox. He’s more of a “scrappy veteran” type of player aka Lenny Dyksta or since it’s established that we’re both middle aged or becoming old fogey’s Mike Easler compared to Dave Parker.
Exactly what was needed!
Way to go Hahn & K Williams…for once.
Good luck to Benintendi. Great pickup.
This is actually a nice signing for defense and someone who can hit RHPs. In the end, Eloy and Robert are the ones who have to live up to their hype/stop being on IL. If they can’t pull off a 3rd WC spot and at least 1 series win, that should be the final straw for this FO.
Fair enough.
Very nice deal for the CWS. 3+ WAR player locked in for all his prime years.
I mean yeah, if you think he’ll actually produce that kind of value consistently, it’s a good signing. I’m skeptical.
Benintendi will be better than Yoshida who the Sox rushed to pay more. Frustrating. Bloom = bad.
You may be right.
Astros must be waiting to see what happens with Brantley.
This makes sense to have Benintendi in the second slot as he walks more and will allow Anderson protection to increase stolen bases. The other questions will be is Sheets and Cespedes become trade pieces? Does Hahn believe some combination of Gonzalez, Sosa and Garcia at 2B is sufficient because I don’t see them spending more money on position players. .
for now, yes re: 2B. and it sucks.
though they do have a trade chip in liam hendriks, so i guess they could flip him for a viable 2B and a prospect
Now sign Drury
Sheets will not be traded. Cepedes will have to beat out Colas. Mendick is still a possibility at second. He’s good defensively. I agree that they are done signing position players.
Reds would have loved him. Just what they needed a solid hitting LH OF! Only problem is (sadly) that the 75M he is getting from the White Sox is about 74M more than the Reds would have offered.
This is absolutely no excuse the Reds weren’t in on Benintendi. The Reds could have outbid the White Sox and still start the 2023 with a play roll $23 million dollars lower than it was on opening day 2022.
Agreed Bob Reds COULD have signed him. I share your frustration for sure. Reds would have had to outbid what he signed for with the White Sox 5 years $75M probably by quite a bit. Does anyone think Reds would go that high and probably on years 3-5 underperforming the contract?
Reds entire focus is on a rebuild. I am more interested to see what 2024 looks like after Moustakas/Votto contracts come off the books. That will probably be the time when Reds will be more likely to spend some serious dollars once they see how the team develops over 2023.
Wow.. Thought Rick Hahn went into a coma this off season after the Clevinger signing. Clevinger is a ‘guess’ and ‘hope’ that he is the pitcher he was a few years ago. The problem was that there were far more established and successful pitchers out there, but Hahn and CO went their typical cheapness. Same with the position players..
The moves are OK, but not for a team who is in a supposed ‘win now’ window.. Benintendi is at least a solid player that should hopefully make what position his is playing better. One less ‘hope’ I guess. Like the ‘hope’ is that the new manager gets this team to field their positions better than they have the last few years, ‘hope’ the pitching staff stays healthy, ‘hope’ that Giolito finds his better self, ‘hope’ Cease does not regress.. ‘hope’ players like Anderson, Robert, and Jimenez take their ‘next step’ to be better hitters and fielders, ‘hope’ a guy like Colas comes up to be a ROY candidate, and finally ‘hope’ this team can actually looks like it belongs in the playoffs this season. I guess we can all wish for a Christmas Miracle even though Spring training has not started?
Wow, looks like someone got triggered. There’s going postal, and then this guy. Do you even understand baseball where regression to the mean is so pronounced and teams routinely ping pong btwn 70 and 90 wins? Sounds like someone needs a blankie and a bottle
Looking at your response to mine, I think I see who really got ‘triggered’ (and who needs their blankie). I’m merely stating an opinion that this club is based more on hopes and what ifs than actual results and these ‘moves’ by Hahn did not change much of that (for a second straight year mind you, after said Hahn was boasting about their window to win). I do not see you or anyone else really proving me wrong, other than throwing out garbage about being triggered… Getting proven players (and getting them in at their peak performance) means a higher likelihood of getting near or over 90 wins, playing Hahn’s playbook and getting guys you ‘hope’ will do well, and keeping the rest of the ‘what ifs’ and ‘hopes’ is what gets you more near 70….
Too bad The Braves don’t have a huge hole in LF where they could have fit him in. Can never have too many contact hitters in the lineup who play the field well. Oh well, guess our roster just didn’t have the opening for a move like this
As a White Sox fan I really like this signing. That statement in itself is very sad. Sweet, we signed Clevinger and Benny.
Steal Benny from the Yankees. Paybacks for Rutherford busting
This is the position-player answer to the contracts of mid-rotation starters. He’s not going to thrill with overall performance, but will generally be competent. It’s not a bad signing.
That is a great park for him to hit in. And I think Cash is hunting bigger game via trade. And the guy who strengthens his hand in that market the most? Carlos Rodon. Excellent use of money to create a favorable condition.
Red Sox could have comfortably paid Benentendi that amount. But then, Bloom is a moron.
Or Yoshida could be a better signing…. time will tell.
Yoshida is an unknown. And can’t field. Benentendi is someone, when healthy, you can bank on.
Nice move. We need 2-3 more like this.
Wow mid/small markets are flushed out. MLB is a joke.
The Padres say hi
My condolences to Benintendi. He has to end his career in the dysfunctional zoo called the White Sox.
I don’t know which was the more shocking news this week. The nuclear fusion energy breakthrough or the imbeciles in charge of the White Sox finally having outfielders play outfield.
Gotta like the deal. I still believe a deal with Blue Jays , M’s or Mets for 2B and C are possible. Merrifield, Andrus, Kirk, Raleigh, even Mendick back improves defense. Still a good core group if they stay healthy. Why are Anderson and Lynn playing for team USA. I see an injury there.
“In 5775 career innings in left field, he’s been credited with 32 Defensive Runs Saved. It’s notable that Statcast’s Outs Above Average feels quite differently, pegging Benintendi at -15 in that same time, although that’s skewed by one -10 season in 2019 (a season that DRS agrees was below average from a defensive standpoint).”
–
Reason #1,047 that shake my head when seeing people citing and arguing over defensive statistics.
A smart team puts their position players at their best defensive positions….and makes sure that the team is strong at C, SS, and CF…..where the mental part of the game is as important as the physical.
The White Sox have a lot of work to do with the worst defense I’ve seen on any ML team since Ozzie left. The good news is that Benintendi is a very good LF, and Eloy Jimenez has been moved to his best defensive position – he now plays bat. The bad news is that it’ll take at least 3 years to clean this mess up – the Sox don’t have a group of young guys coming up, their veterans are overpaid on multi-year contracts and can’t be moved. Their best hope is that a new managing partner takes control of the franchise.
Yup. Jerry just p*ssed in the mouths of Sox fans for the last 2 years with his TLR move, and now he’s trying to be good-guy Jerry by buying us the Red Ninja Turtle doll (yeah, I wanted a good guy but not THAT one)
How does Benintendi get less than Nimmo?
If Nimmo got coin how much will Dori get?
Maybe because Benintendi sucks
Nimmo is the better player
I would argue that Robert, Jimenez, Vaughn, Moncada, Kopech and Crochet are just entering their prime years.
Yeah, and still have a LOT of ‘what ifs’ about this crowd though.
Robert could be great, but his power is not showing up consistently and he has slumps that a player of his caliber should not have (still waiting to see the ‘Cuban Mike Trout’ as he has been hyped as), for the record I think he can get there, but I think he has to realize that he has to keep striving every day to get better.
Kopech needs to stay healthy and throw for an entire major league season but I do think he could be an Ace.
Crochet needs to see how well his control suffers after TJS, and even before that if he can get all of his stuff that is not a 100mph over the plate for strikes that do not get crushed by the opposing hitter (never mind he will likely only be in the bullpen next season and not the rotation where is where they want to see him), Moncada.. heh.. I do not know where to begin with that guy.. Lets just say we hope he is on the practice field more than the recording studio and that the new manager can get him to go out there and perform well on a consistent basis. Again he has the talent, he makes good plays on hard infield attempts and has two 5 hit games last season, but he messes up the routine plays at times and hit around .200 for the season.
Vaughn? Well he just has to show he can play first well (and Anderson and Moncada are not going to make it easy for him) and see if the bat gets better without him having to learn another position on the filed this season. He is not a super ute player, this is a guy that can rake it, just put him at first and leave him there if you can.
Finally of of the above also need to find a way to stay healthy and on the field.
Was really hoping the Braves would go after him. It’s pretty obvious Dansby is out of the price range we want, but this is a ridiculously cheap deal for a GG/OBP machine to put in the second spot in your order.
Hey, but at least we got Ozuna and Rosario still.
Was hoping for Sox of red, but good for him.
Shares for Colas and Sheets just dived. Think it might be priced right when I’m ready to draft.
Jerry Reinsdorf could afford to spend more money on prized targets instead of mid, if he didn’t have to always bail his deviant friend Tony LaRussa out of jail for drunk driving for the last 40 years
Guess nobody else offered more year than the Sox.
Andrew Benintendi was my top preference to fill the White Sox LF hole, balance out their lineup with a lefty bat and give them a speedy high contact OBP machine at the top of the order. I picked him for the White Sox in MLBTR’s annual FA contest but that was based more on fit and hope than reality considering their reported budget constraints this offseason. Needless to say I am both surprised and thrilled with this signing.
Don’t stop now boys! Get a 2B be it top remaining free agent Jean Segura or trade for one like Nick Madrigal who will be eminently available if and when the Cubs sign free agent SS Dansby Swanson.
My last request would be another reunification via a trade, C James McCann from the Mets who just put him on the block and are apparently willing to eat a substantial portion of the remaining $24MM on the last two years of his contract. McCann was the best overall White Sox catcher this long time fan has witnessed not named Carlton Fisk or A.J. Pierzynski. Aside from providing a solid bat he also gave the White Sox a premier game caller and was particularly effective helping Lucas Giolito attain ace status in 2019 and 2020. McCann would be a great platoon option with Yasmani Grandal in 2023 like he was in 2020. He could also be the White Sox primary catcher in 2024 while they figure out who their next core backstop will be. McCann should be available very cheaply.
If the White Sox don’t mind ponying up more in a trade then Blue Jays catcher and Elmhurst native Danny Jansen could be the answer. He’ll be 28 in April and is 4+ years younger than McCann. Jansen also comes with two more cheaper arbitration eligible years of team control.
If the Sox go get McCann they could have two bad catchers then. McCann was great for the Sox, with the keyword being WAS. He WAS great with different coaches around him (and some players) at the time he was with the Sox
I was hoping I would stop hearing the Sox need to trade their farm system for a young catcher when Murphy moved, but apparently not.. But then again Im in the camp of You don’t trade the farm system for a guy who is one knee injury away from being a first baseman instead of a catcher.. Grandal’s contract stinks, but at least its only money, its not like they traded someone good for him.
I agree with your comments but here are mine. I love Madrigal’s bat but he’s too slow turning the double play. I would rather bring back Mendick. We could probably get McCann for Diekman but am not sure he is an upgrade over Zeby. I love trading for Jansen especially if Merrifield or Biggio was included. However, Toronto is going to want a lefthanded reliever and prospects in return. I don’t want to trade Crochet or Bummer so I’m not sure we can match up with Toronto. How do you think we can match up?
Yeah, if the Sox cannot get someone better, I would stick with Mendick, he seemed to have a knack for getting a key hit here or there in a game. As for Bummer, no one wants Bummer, its just the Sox are stuck with him as they do not have anyone better at the moment.
Judging from what I saw of him in pinstripes, Chicago got a good player. But if he doesn’t want to play in New York, it was best for all concerned that he moved on.
I think Cashman will try to acquire a left fielder in trade rather than go to the free agent market again. Hicks should be traded or dumped, but I suspect they’re intrigued enough by Cabrera’s potential that they don’t want to splurge on a free agent to fill the position. Max Kepler would be my choice.
I’m down for Jake McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s very young, very talented, and good on defense. Plus, he’s a lefty bat.
I also think Jurickson Profar could still be a free agent option if he’ll take a 2 or 3 year deal. He has a lower batting average and less solid defense than Benintendi, but he has more power and still has similar value. He had 3.1 WAR this season while Benny was worth 3.2
If they go for any of the snakes, I’d prefer Varsho, although he’ll cost more. I haven’t seen any of these guys play, so I’m limited to surveying their metrics, but McCarthy doesn’t thrill me. Metrics say he was a sub-par fielder this year, with a weak arm. Varsho was the best defender not only in Arizona but in the entire league, statistically. He also bats left and hit 27 home runs.
Profar could work, although Statcast doesn’t like his defense. I’ve seen some OAA ratings on other players that seemed wildly off-base compared to the eye test, so I’m not married to that rating system (or any of the defensive metrics, for that matter).
Profar is just as good as Benintendi according to Rotowire’s metrics, and his throwing arm is even better.
rotowire.com/baseball/stats-defense.php
Cool! The White Sox have finally replaced Scott Podsednik in left field! That is not a bad thing, Sox fans.
The Sox need power hitting corner outfields in the lineup. Benintendi won’t help the offense much, he’s far better than Vaughn or Eloy in the outfield.
Good player
just a lot to pay for singles and defense
Wow. Something the Evil Empire and Red Sox Nation agree on…. Benintendi: Loved by fans, not so much love from the FOs
I’m sure the Grindol hiring had something to do with this signing and the connection in KC. I don’t think they will add any other major pieces and they’ll wait out the rest of the market for a mid innings reliever ex. Givens or Fulmer. I have no problem with them trying to figure out if Gonzalez or Sosa can be their everyday 2B..but they better be ready to trade for one by the end of spring training if it’s obvious they aren’t it.
Which hiring is that now?
Benintendi is a “sum is greater than the parts” addition to the White Sox.
That is the basis of his worth to them. They are a much better overall team with him – above the track record he brings as an individual talent.
I don’t see it that way with the Yankees – not at all – yet can’t explain exactly why and don’t blame them for not matching or topping this deal.
I’m sure Grifol would love to see Merrifield at 2B now. That would only leave defense fixes at RF,C, 3B,SS,and 1B it’s still that bad.
Sad but true….I do think that if someone were to get into Moncada’s head and drive him to be a better ballplayer he could be great (there’s one of those ‘could be’ what if’s’ and ‘jopes’ I was talking about though), but I think we have seen all we will see out of Anderson though.. Grandal is walking wounded, and RF is a giant question mark, even if they put Sheets out there full time (and not sure, if Colas makes the club, that he will be any better a fielder). Vaughn, playing his natural position should be OK… Unless he has an unmotivated Moncada and Anderson throwing at him, then he better go ask Corey Crawford (Ex Blackhawk Goaltender for those who do not know) for advice on how to block errant shots and keep them from getting past him
Who the hell cares the name of his agent??
Plenty of people pay attention to the agencies and agents because they can play a role in what deals get done when and shaping a player’s career.
I like AB, but man that seems like a lot. Not enough power for me. He may be a 4th OF by the back end of this.
Wow no TLR hate posts today, good for TLR , given the Sox are still bad on defense after the deal at other positions.
He wanted the Midwest and while he had a very good year in Kansas City he stunk it up in the Bronx then got hurt and didn’t even play in the playoffs. Cash man will trade for a LF. No Stress
I never liked where the Yankees had him the batting order. He doesn’t hit for power just average. I would have had him in the bottom of the order.
Now go get Drury to play 2nd base 28 dingers
1 Anderson ss 2 Ben lf 3 Robert cf 4 Vaughn 1b 5 Jimenez dh 6 Moncada 3b 7 Grandal c 8 Drury 2b 9 colas sheets Hamilton Garcia mendick utl Perez bc.
Orseno, If they suit up to play. The key X factor. If they get 50 games with that lineup I’ll be surprised.
Oh heck yeah! White Sox needed a left-handed bat, and even better the dude can put the ball in play which this lineup desperately needed. So happy with this move, this one I like more than the Swanson deal, but just happy both Chicago teams added quality hitters to their teams.
Also, just want to say, I think the Yankees should’ve gotten Benintendi, they needed a guy like him in their lineup.
Quite an impressive delay – almost as impressive as the Carlos Korea drama
Ken, Codi, Baek-Hyun, you don’t understand the facts or have low reading comprehension.
What are you going on about? It’s a Jon Heyman joke. Look up Arson Judge.
Phew, glad it wasn’t only a dream. Without Benintendi, it would be difficult for the Sox to secure 2nd or 3rd place in the hapless AL Central.
They should have signed a guy like this two years ago. Too little, too late, as is always the case with this club.
Reinsdorf gonna be paying him in wheelburrows filled with pennies and nickles.
The Reds could have easily outbid the White-Sox. The Reds desperately need outfielders, Benintendi is from Cincinnati. It was such a perfect fit for the Reds. It’s shameful, the league allow teams to operate on shoestring budgets when it’s clear they are making a fortune through TV contracts and revenue sharing.
So who will Benintendi bee traded to at the deadline?
Good question. The Sox have positioned themselves to be out of the AL Central race. I already predicted they’ll be sellers by the trade deadline, and it’s a damned shame.
Aargh! He was the lefty the Mariners needed in left field! Their lack of movement is driving me crazy
George is spinning. Cashman is a joke