The communication between Andrew Benintendi and the Chicago White Sox started on the primary day of free company.
The correspondence concluded with the All-Star outfielder and the Sox agreeing to a five-year, $75 million contract.
“There was constant interest throughout the entire process,” Benintendi mentioned throughout his introductory information convention Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “It’s good to be here with a team that wanted me from Day 1.”
Benintendi’s deal — first reported on Dec. 16 — is the most important in staff historical past.
“The way I approach it is, it doesn’t matter what the (contract) number is, it’s about winning games,” he mentioned. “It’s about playing hard. No one really cares (about the contract) if you don’t win games. In the end, it’s all about winning and being a good teammate.”
He joins a staff trying to bounce again after going 81-81 final season and lacking the playoffs.
“The first thing that stands out about that team is the pitching staff,” Benintendi mentioned. “The robust arms within the bullpen, the robust starters. And it’s only a bonus on the opposite facet too. The expertise on the plate, the at-bats guys have, the velocity, the ability.
“I’m excited to be a part of it, watching from afar the last two years, to be a part of that lineup, this team, I’m excited to get things going.”
Benintendi, 28, has a .279/.351/.431 profession slash line with 169 doubles, 73 house runs and 384 RBIs in 745 video games with the Boston Red Sox (2016-20), Kansas City Royals (2021-22) and New York Yankees (2022).
He additionally has a reference to a few of his new teammates, together with having performed with reliever Joe Kelly in Boston. Benintendi additionally has ties to supervisor Pedro Grifol, who was the bench coach when Benintendi performed for the Royals.
“He’s a very versatile player as far as where we hit him in the lineup,” Grifol mentioned. “He’s finished every thing within the recreation — he hits for common, he has hit for energy, he runs the bases effectively. He matches rather well with what we’re attempting to do right here.
“He fits perfect on this ballclub, he fits perfect in this park. He’s exactly what we were looking for.”
That bond with Grifol performed a think about his signing.
“The last two years being with him in Kansas City, how he went about his day, his routine, the early work and preparation was something that stood out to me when I was in Kansas City,” Benintendi mentioned. “It’s easy to joke around with him. It’s been a good relationship, and looking forward to the next five years, it’s going to be even better.”
Benintendi slashed .304/.373/.399 with 23 doubles, 5 house runs and 51 RBIs in 126 video games for the Royals and Yankees in 2022 and was named an All-Star for the primary time.
He has hit not less than 15 house runs in a season 3 times, together with a career-high 20 in 2017. He had 17 homers in 2021. The .304 common final season was a profession excessive, good for sixth place within the AL.
Asked if he want to add extra slugging together with the contact, Benintendi mentioned, “Oh, yeah, all people would really like that.
“But for me, taking part in at Kauffman (Stadium) in 2021, I acquired fairly pissed off simply flying out. We joked about it on a regular basis, these lengthy flyouts. I’m not the most important man (5-foot-9, 180). It’s going to take every thing I can to hit a ball out of that stadium. So going into final yr, I used to be considering, let’s simply hit for increased common and better on-base and hopefully this works or I’m going to be in a world of bother. I’m attempting to be an entire hitter.
“Playing in this stadium, a lot of those long flyouts will turn into doubles and home runs without even trying to change anything. Whatever the team needs me to, whatever player they need me to be, that’s who I’ll try to be.”
Benintendi additionally offers the Sox a lift defensively in left discipline — he gained a Gold Glove Award in 2021. According to FanGraphs, Benintendi leads all major-league left fielders with 31 defensive runs saved since 2017.
“It’s something you don’t appreciate when you’re younger,” Benintendi mentioned of his protection. “You go on the market solely apprehensive about your at-bats and generally you are taking your at-bats into left discipline or the place you’re taking part in, however for me it’s one thing I’ve taken much more possession of and extra pleasure in.
“Taking better routes, getting quicker jumps is something I’ve focused on the last two years, especially playing in a bigger outfield at Kauffman, so it’s been something I’ve taken pride in. … It’s something I will keep working at.”
Grifol has talked with Eloy Jiménez, who can be shifting from left discipline to designated hitter. Jiménez had success as a DH final season, slashing .274/.343/.500 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 50 video games within the function.
“(Benintendi) comes here to play left field, he’s done it his whole career and he’s obviously very good at it,” Grifol mentioned. “I’ve spoken to Eloy, I’ve told him to continue to work in the outfield, to work some in right field as well. … And in true professional manner, Eloy is like whatever is best for this ballclub and whatever helps us win.”
Grifol is trying ahead to the reunion with Benintendi, describing him as “a quiet leader. Plays the game hard, respects the game and he’s going to be a hell of a teammate.”
It’s a brand new staff and new uniform quantity for Benintendi, who laughed when requested if there was any significance to No. 23.
“It’s not what you think,” he mentioned. “I’m a Michael Jordan fan, was rising up. But the primary numbers I normally wish to put on have been all taken or retired. And this offered itself and I assumed, ‘Why not?’ My sister her senior yr was 32, so I can flip that round in assist of her.
“It’s a cool number, an iconic number in this city. I’m by no means trying to say anything about that, but hopefully it does me well.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com