The New York Yankees have a new starting outfielder: Andrew Benintendi, acquired in a late Wednesday trade with the Kansas City Royals, will take over in left field for the Bronx Bombers.
The Yankees were reportedly interested in Benintendi for a while, and they agreed to send three minor league players in return for a couple of months of the outfielder.
Benintendi will say his first words as a Yankee on Thursday afternoon in Yankee Stadium.
There, the Yankees will start a series against…the Royals.
“As expected, newly-acquired #Yankees outfielder Andrew Benintendi will address the media in the press conference room at Yankee Stadium this afternoon ahead of tonight’s game against his now former team, Kansas City,” ESPN’s Marly Rivera tweeted.
As expected, newly-acquired #Yankees outfielder Andrew Benintendi will address the media in the press conference room at Yankee Stadium this afternoon ahead of tonight's game against his now former team, Kansas City.
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) July 28, 2022
Benintendi didn’t have to move a lot to report to his new team.
Benintendi In, Gallo Out?
The acquisition of Benintendi, who has a lot of history with the Yankees’ arch-rival Boston Red Sox, probably signals the end of Joey Gallo‘s tenure with the Yanks.
Gallo has a .161/.285/.343 line with 12 home runs in 270 plate appearances.
He wasn’t much better last year, either.
In fact, his performance is probably the reason why the Yanks were looking for an outfielder.
Benintendi, as a player, offers a completely different profile than Gallo: he prioritizes contact over power, he is much more disciplined, and isn’t nearly as vulnerable.
For the year, the former Royals outfielder is hitting .320/.387/.398 with three home runs in 390 trips to the plate.
He will likely play the majority of the Yankees’ remaining games.
His first opponent as a Yankee will be the Royals, the team that employed him in the last two seasons.
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