Andrew Benintendi enters final year of arbitration with the Royals
The Kansas City Royals acquired Andrew Benintendi from the Boston Red Sox prior to the start of the 2021 season. As Benintendi embarks on the 2022 season, his second with the Royals, he will be entering the final year of arbitration.
MLB TradeRumors projects Benintendi’s to earn $9.3 million from arbitration.
Back in February 2019, the Red Sox and Benintendi agreed to a two-year, $10 million extension. Benintendi earned $3.4 million in 2020 and $6.6 million in 2021.
Once Benintendi’s deal if officially up with the Royals, will the former first round pick re-sign a long-term deal?
Royals president of baseball operations Dayton Moore told The Athletic back in November that, “we like him.”
“But you can’t (ever) count on it,” said Moore.
If the Royals elect to not re-sign Benintendi, they have internal options within their system. One player who could fill Benintendi’s role in the outfield is prospect Kyle Isbel.
“We’re definitely going to need outfielders in the future. And he’s always going to have professional hitting attributes. His pitch selection is good. It’s always been good.”
This past season, the former Red Sox outfielder played in 134 games with the Royals. He hit .276 with 17 home runs, 73 RBIs, 27 doubles and two triples over 538 plate appearances.
Benintendi was inconsistent of the course of the 2021 season. He saw great production at the plate at the end of April to mid-June and over the final month of the season.
"It's been an up-and-down year. It seems like every time I kind of get things going with the bat, I broke a rib and then messed up my shoulder. You know, it's a grind. Obviously, you go up there trying to get a hit every single time and it's not going to happen. You can do everything right and you still are out. I feel like I've hit into a lot of hard outs this year which is unfortunate, but it's part of it,” said Benintendi to SI.com.
The Royals left fielder could earn a four-year, $52 million dollar deal on the open market. That contract was signed by free agents who have had similar numbers as Benintendi when they signed with their respective clubs.
Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk was in a similar situation as Benintendi back in 2019. Grichuk opted against signing a one-year deal with the Blue Jays and instead signed for five years and $52 million.
Benintendi may end up betting on himself and that he’ll be healthy and build on his 2021 season. The Royals on the flip side could attempt to move him once the lockout is over and cash in on his value.
“I’ve thought about my season a lot this last month (November),” Benintendi said in a news conference with media members. “There were ups and downs (in the season), but I feel like as long as I stay healthy, I feel like I’m at my best and get into a groove.”
Benintendi loved his time with his teammates last season and is itching to get back on the diamond.
“I had a great time this year. I already miss getting after it with the guys. … It was my first year, but the chemistry seemed off the charts. I was happy to be a part of it.”
That chemistry could lead the Royals and Benintendi to agree to an extension in the future.