Red Sox Sign Andrew Benintendi to 2-Year Deal and Avoid Arbitration
By Mark Powell
The Boston Red Sox are a little busy at the moment.
Amid trade talks that would send Mookie Betts to Los Angeles and a package of prospects back to Boston, the Sox are taking care of one of their own, avoiding even more drama in the process.
The Red Sox have signed Andrew Benintendi to a 2-year deal, avoiding arbitration.
Amidst everything else, Red Sox have a two-year, $10 million deal with Andrew Benintendi, avoiding arbitration.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) February 9, 2020
Benintendi is a key member of Boston's outfield mix moving forward, especially with Betts on the move. The Red Sox's lineup could be lacking in 2020 with the removal of their MVP presence, and they'll need more from the likes of Benintendi to collectively make up for the loss of Betts.
No Betts/Price trade done yet but #Redsox announce they have signed Andrew Benintendi to a 2-year deal avoiding arbitration
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 9, 2020
Benintendi took a significant step back in 2019, hitting .266 with 13 home runs and 68 RBIs. The Red Sox hope he returns to his 2018 form, in which he slugged .290 with 16 homers and drove in 90 baserunners. His value is probably somewhere in the middle.
The Red Sox will look much different in 2020 without Betts in tow, but they're avoiding another problem by locking up Benintendi in the short term.