The Chicago White Sox held Andrew Benintendi in excessive regard stretching again to his school days at Arkansas.
It didn’t line up for the perimeters again then because the Boston Red Sox chosen Benintendi with the seventh decide within the 2015 draft — one slot forward of the White Sox.
“Better late than never,” White Sox normal supervisor Rick Hahn stated throughout a video convention name Tuesday.
The White Sox formally added the All-Star outfielder Tuesday, saying a five-year, $75 million deal. The signing — first reported on Dec. 16 — is the most important contract in workforce historical past when it comes to total worth.
Benintendi will obtain a $3 million signing bonus, $8 million in 2023, $16.5 million every season from 2024 to 2026 and $14.5 million in 2027.
An introductory information convention with Benintendi and Sox supervisor Pedro Grifol is scheduled for Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“His profile both offensively and defensively we thought were great complements to what we already had and how we projected to break the season come opening day,” Hahn stated. “A man who … offers you a tricky (at-bat), can grind it out, put up strong on-base numbers towards the highest of the lineup and enhance our outfield protection.
“He really fit in a lot of different ways that we were looking to improve ourselves.”
Benintendi slashed .304/.373/.399 with 23 doubles, 5 residence runs and 51 RBIs in 126 video games for the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees in 2022, making the All-Star workforce for the primary time. The left-handed hitter slashed .318/.388/.428 towards right-handed pitching.
After getting traded to the Yankees on July 28, he suffered a damaged hook of the hamate bone in his proper hand Sept. 2 at Tampa Bay and missed the rest of the season, together with the postseason.
“It’s an unfortunate injury but one that is fairly common within baseball,” Hahn stated. “He had a procedure to address it and has already begun swinging and projects no restrictions going forward. Knock on wood, that’s fully behind us.”
Benintendi will attempt to assist the Sox rebound after they went 81-81 final season and missed the playoffs.
He’ll reunite with Grifol after the 2 had been collectively in Kansas City, the place Grifol held a number of roles from 2013-22, together with bench coach the final three seasons.
Benintendi, 28, has a .279/.351/.431 profession slash line with 169 doubles, 73 residence runs and 384 RBIs in 745 video games with the Red Sox (2016-20), Royals (2021-22) and Yankees (’22). He had consecutive seasons with at the very least 40 doubles in 2018 (41) and 2019 (40).
The earlier largest contract in White Sox historical past was given to catcher Yasmani Grandal, who signed a four-year, $73 million deal on Nov. 21, 2019.
“Andrew has showed a variety of ways that he can help you offensively,” Hahn stated. “It was an attention-grabbing a part of our conversations with Andrew about how he adjusted to the ballpark in Kansas City. And then as soon as he was in Yankee Stadium, how he considered what he may do offensively there. And enjoying in Fenway with the quick left discipline, there have been completely different expertise he felt had been demanded of him that he was capable of produce offensively.
“Ultimately, a guy who produced a lot of doubles in a big ballpark like Kauffman and has historically shown more power, he may well produce more from a power standpoint in our ballpark. But frankly him being that consistent tough out who has the ability to get on base is really going to be job one for him and what he’s shown himself capable of doing when that’s asked of him.”
In 21 profession postseason video games, Benintendi has a .272/.322/.407 slash line with 5 doubles, two homers, 9 RBIs and 18 runs. He helped the Red Sox to a title in 2018, slashing .333/.368/.389 with six runs in 5 video games towards the Los Angeles Dodgers within the World Series.
He received the American League Gold Glove Award for left discipline in 2021 and can be a part of 2020 Gold Glove heart fielder Luis Robert within the Sox outfield. According to Fangraphs, Benintendi leads all major-league left fielders with 31 defensive runs saved since 2017.
Eloy Jiménez probably might be slotted because the designated hitter with Gavin Sheets and prospect Oscar Colás among the many choices in proper discipline.
“I still expect Eloy to be available and play some outfield,” Hahn stated. “The constructive growth out of his restricted availability final 12 months (84 video games) was that Eloy confirmed he may thrive within the DH spot offensively when that was his major spot.
“A lot of players we’ve seen over time take a period of time to adjust to that role, and Eloy certainly showed he was able to produce as a primary DH. That said, I still think there will be some opportunities along the way for him to play in the outfield.”
Benintendi joins beginning pitcher Mike Clevinger as the main signings for the Sox this offseason.
What’s forward for the roster?
“We’re always going to look to get better,” Hahn stated. “It’s a cliché — however I suppose a cliché for a purpose — that you simply’re by no means happy with what your roster is, and we actually know there’s methods we are able to enhance, each from a place participant standpoint in addition to from a pitching depth standpoint. So we’re going to proceed to look.
“What happens over the next six weeks leading into camp and then the six, seven weeks we’re in camp is impossible to predict. But certainly the way we perceive ourselves is not as a finished product at this time.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com