(Image credits: Jim Davis / Boston Globe)
On the one-year anniversary of the blockbuster Mookie Betts trade being finalized, Chaim Bloom strikes again shipping out another homegrown outfielder in Andrew Benintendi in exchange for building for a better future for the organization. With Benintendi gone, the World Series-winning outfield of Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Betts, once known as the "Killer B's," is officially completely dismantled.
Last night, the Red Sox traded Benintendi in a three-team trade, sending Benny to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for another 26-year old outfielder, Franchy Cordero, as well as receiving Mets' pitching prospect Josh Winckowski, with the Mets receiving Royals' outfield prospect Khalil Lee. Boston will also get three more players to be named later, two from Kansas City and one from New York, most likely to be named after the minor league season begins.
As a Red Sox fan upon first glance, sure, this trade hurts to see, especially on the one-year anniversary of the Mookie trade. Why does it feel like the Sox front office is so determined to ship out all the homegrown fan favorites? Do they just love to kick a horse while it's down? After some time of reflection, I've compiled my own thoughts on the trade and the impact it'll have on the future of the organization.
1. This could be just as beneficial for Benintendi's future as it is for Boston's.
Take away a pretty much throwaway season for Benny in 2020 after playing in just 14 games, it's still safe to say Benny's BEEN on a downward turn since the 2018 season.
Selected in the first round of the draft by Boston in 2015, he was never able to tap into his full potential with the Sox. He showed flashes of promise in 2017 and 2018 and played a big role in bringing home that 2018 title and for that, we owe him nothing but appreciation and respect!
Unfortunately, things just never panned out for him here. Playing left field of Fenway is hard enough, then add onto the fact he seemed to be stuck in this mental slump at the plate for the last couple of seasons, I think a change of scenery could really benefit Benny. Many people in the Sox organization believe Benintendi is fully capable of making a comeback, including Bloom and Cora.
This deal is not so much a dig at Benny as it is just another example of the "Chaim Bloom Way" if you will of creating a "sustainable" organization as he calls it. In other words, creating an organization structured for success, for a long time.
2. This was not a salary dump.
I realize we're all scarred from the Mookie trade and the idea that the driving force behind that trade was to get the suddenly penny-pinching Boston Red Sox under the luxury tax. First of all, the only part of that deal that could be considered a salary dump is the attachment of David Price to Los Angeles. Aside from that, while I'm not going to sit here and explain Bloom's motive behind moving one of the best players in baseball, we need to collectively drop this narrative that every move he makes is driven by him trying to save John Henry some cash.
I totally get it, this offseason in particular we've seen big market teams cutting costs just for the sake of being cheap. It stinks and it's no good for the sport. This deal is not that. The Red Sox freed up a whole $1.4 million for 2021 from this move. That's pocket change for a billionaire. The fact of the matter is the Sox felt moving forward it was best to let go of Benny and give him a chance elsewhere to rebound and get some solid prospects to build for the future out of it. Oh, and also get this guy who supposedly hits missiles, as long as he can stay healthy.
3. While we're at it, stop comparing every trade Bloom makes to the Mookie trade.
No one is Mookie Betts. I like Andrew Benintendi too, I wish things worked out better for him here. He is not Mookie Betts. Stop it.
4. Benny was traded at the lowest value of his career, OF COURSE the return isn't all that shiny and exciting.
I like this trade and I understand it's the best move for the Red Sox, but it's certainly not perfect. Given Franchy Cordero's injury history, I am a bit nervous. I like his swing and think he could be a monster at Fenway if he's healthy, but his defense also isn't anything I'm particularly thrilled about, especially given how difficult it is to play left field at Fenway. Prospects are great, I like what I see from Josh Winckowski and I'm excited to see what other players we get but yeah, the return isn't all that glamorous for someone so highly-regarded in the Red Sox organization.
Alas, this return is probably as good as you're going to get for Benny. He was traded at his lowest value, you're not getting gold in return. I thought if anything Benny would be dealt at the trade deadline at this point after offseason trade rumors about him fizzled out in January, with the thought the Red Sox would give him a chance to try to rebound in Boston at least to start the season. Then again, Bloom does not seem to be messing around. Clearly, this is the type of return he was looking for, so it is what it is.
5. On that same note: Chaim Bloom does not care about our feelings.
And no offense, but nor should he. If you haven't figured this out yet, it's either time to accept the fact or maybe jump ship. My dude is making moves to win baseball games for years to come, not please the fans. I don't know about you but I like when my baseball team wins games, so I'd say he's got the right idea. Don't hate the player, hate the game.
6. A Jackie Bradley Jr. reunion certainly seems like a good idea, but it remains unlikely.
Again, Franchy Cordero makes me nervous and the idea of Hunter Renfroe every day in right field gives me a headache, and our depth in the outfield is lacking, to say the least. Now more than ever, a Jackie Bradley Jr. reunion seems to make sense.
While Bloom did say in his press conference last night the Red Sox remain in contact with JBJ, there's still that "if it makes sense for both sides," aspect to it, and absolutely on paper looking at the roster JBJ makes sense, but given the money he's asking for, and the money the Red Sox have left to spend, it's unlikely. If it happens, I'll be thrilled, but I'm not counting on it.
At the very least, we have Jarren Duran's debut to look forward to, as he's projected to come up to the major league level at some point this summer.
7. I get it, it's sad. I'm sad too. It's okay to be sad!
We've all heard the phrase "baseball is a business," and while that's true, it's still okay to be sad when one of your favorite players is traded! Don't let anyone shame you for having an emotional attachment to a player, it's apart of the fan experience and there's nothing wrong with it.
Be sad, be angry, feel whatever you want! The best we can do now is hope for a big comeback year for Benintendi in Kansas City, and success for Cordero in Boston. Oh and don't forget to mark your calendars for June 28th, when Andrew Benintendi makes his return to Fenway with the Royals.