Reports Surface Saying Andrew Benintendi is Expected to be Traded by the End of the Weekend

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported on Tuesday night that a rival executive told him that he would be “shocked” if Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi wasn’t traded by the end of the weekend.

Rival executive familiar with Red Sox thinking said he would be “shocked” if Andrew Benintendi wasn’t traded before the end of the weekend.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 13, 2021

It’s an interesting statement from someone who reportedly has knowledge of the inner thinking of Red Sox management. The timing of a Benintendi trade couldn’t come at a worse time for Boston from a return standpoint. Chaim Bloom would be selling low on Benintendi after a down year.

Benintendi had a great season in 2018, like just about every other Red Sox hitter, but hasn’t been the same player since.

It was a short season in 2020, but Benintendi hit .103 with just four total hits before suffering a season-ending injury while running the bases. He was worth -0.2 wins, as he drove in one run in 14 games.

Teams are unwilling to spend money on just about anyone this winter, so spending over $6 million on a left fielder who’s coming off a terrible short season and an injury doesn’t seem real likely.

The Red Sox are already low on outfielders and aren’t really seen as the front runners to sign Jackie Bradley Jr. in free agency. Losing Benintendi would leave Alex Verdugo and Hunter Renfroe as the only outfielders remaining on the 26-man roster (if you don’t include Michael Chavis) assuming they don’t receive a major league caliber outfielder in return.

If the Red Sox know what’s good for them, they shouldn’t look to trade Andrew Benintendi this offseason. He’s coming off a poor last two seasons and wouldn’t net back a great return. He is under contract for two more seasons so Boston needs to hope for a bounce back season with his former manager, Alex Cora, back in the fold.

(Photo: Michael Dwyer/AP)