Fansided

MLB Insider: Andrew Benintendi and 2 other offseason mistakes

By Robert Murray

Apr 12, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) yells at the Colorado Rockies third base coach in the fourth inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) yells at the Colorado Rockies third base coach in the fourth inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Andrew Benintendi #23 of the Chicago White Sox greets teammates during pregame introductions prior to the White Sox home opener against the San Francisco Giants on April 3, 2023 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
Andrew Benintendi #23 of the Chicago White Sox greets teammates during pregame introductions prior to the White Sox home opener against the San Francisco Giants on April 3, 2023 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images) /

Chicago White Sox signing Andrew Benintendi to five-year deal

Immediately after the Chicago White Sox signed outfielder Andrew Benintendi to a five-year, $75 million contract, I received this text from a National League executive: “I don’t know, man. That feels like a lot.”

The White Sox giving Benintendi a five-year deal was something that no other team was willing to do. There were other teams who were willing to go three and four years, but the White Sox’s willingness to go five years was what ultimately landed them the talented outfielder.

While Benintendi has solid numbers, hitting .281/.337/.333 in 104 plate appearances, he has not hit a home run and only recorded five RBI. His OPS sits at .670 and his hard-hit rate sits in the fourth percentile in baseball.

The White Sox, meanwhile, look like baseball’s biggest disappointment as they are 8-21 and nine games back in the American League Central. If they are to bounce back, they’ll need Benintendi to step up in a big way. But if his OPS and hard-hit rate are a sign of things to come, that contract could soon look like a mistake for general manager Rick Hahn.

Home/MLB