The Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals and New York Mets have reached an agreement on a transaction that will send Fenway outfielder Andrew Benintendi to KC, the Bostonian’s ninth confirmed Wednesday.
Royals prospect Khalil Lee will join the Mets, while outfielder Franchy Cordero will join the Red Sox.
The #Red Stockings today OR Andrew Benintendi and cash considerations traded to the KC Royals in exchange for OF Franchy Cordero & 2 players later named.
In addition, the Red Sox received minor league RHP Josh Winckowski and a player who will later be named from the New York Mets.
– Red Sox (@RedSox) February 11, 2021
Right-wing prospect Josh Winckowski and a player later named will move from the Mets to the Red Sox.
Once part of the acclaimed outfield core of the Red Sox, Benintendi missed most of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, which was on the disabled list on Aug. 12 due to a rib cage strain. Boston then ruled him out for the year.
He hit only .103 without homeruns and one RBI in 52 at bats in 14 games.
A .273 hitter in his career, Benintendi finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year ballot in 2017. He led all Red Sox players with 15 points scored during his post-season run in 2018, which ended with a World Series championship.
He has one more year left in a two-year $ 10 million deal reached in February 2020, before being eligible for arbitration in 2022 and free agent in 2023.
Lee, for his part, was selected by the Royals in the third round in 2016 and was named Baseball America Rookie All-Star. He reached Double A in 2018 and 2019 and played in the Puerto Rico Winter League for the past two years. He hits .256 in the minor leagues with 37 home runs and 192 RBI’s in 1719 at bats.
Cordero was limited to only 16 games in 2020 due to injuries, hitting .211 with two homeruns and seven RBI’s in 38 at bats.