By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas Royals announced late Wednesday that they have acquired outfielder Andrew Benintendi and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox in a three-team trade that sends outfielder Franchy Cordero and two players to be named to the Red Sox and outfielder Khalil Lee to the New York Mets.
The Mets acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Josh Winckowski and either a player to be named later or cash considerations from Boston.
Benintendi has spent his entire Major League career with the Red Sox. He was limited to 14 games in 2020 due to a right rib cage strain. In his last full season with the Sox, he batted .266 and tied for fifth in the American League with 40 doubles. Royals manager Dayton Moore calls Benintendi a proven winner.
"He's a proven talent at this point and time in his career," Moore said. "He's been a part of playoffs and he's a proven winner. He fits in well with who we are and what this lineup needs."
Benintendi entered 2017 as Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect, and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting to Aaron Judge.
He recorded four hits and scored three runs in Game 1 of the 2018 World Series vs. the Dodgers, becoming the first player in Major League history to accomplish that in his first World Series game.