2019 did not treat Andrew Benintendi as kindly as anyone would have liked. Benintendi, the 2017 runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year, started the season in the leadoff spot, flipping with Mookie Betts from 2018. However, Benintendi struggled and was moved back down to the two spot at the beginning of June.
Due to Benintendi’s continued struggles hitting second, and the success Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts were having, Benintendi was dropped even further to hitting 5th or 6th in the lineup.
Benintendi did start to get hot towards the end of July, but then he went back to his normal 2019 numbers. He still has lots of potential, but the Red Sox could look to trade him this offseason.
Benintendi slipped from 2018, from hitting .290 to .266, 106 strikeouts to 140, an OPS of .830 down to .774, and an OPS+ of 123 down to 100 in 2019. Benintendi’s defense also slipped from 2018 to 2019, producing a Defensive Runs Saved Above Average of 4 in left field in 2018, and -3 in left field in 2019. Benintendi is still a final candidate for a Gold Glove this year.
So now, the real question is why would you trade Benintendi after such a poor season? Well, many teams, Red Sox included, still believe that Benintendi has lots of untapped potential and could be a force any year.
Per NJ.com, rumors surrounding a Benintendi and Noah Syndergaard swap began surfacing around the 2019 Trade Deadline. The Mets wanting Benintendi from the Red Sox never turned into anything, but it was interesting nonetheless.
Overall, the Red Sox would have to be blown away to deal a player of Benintendi’s caliber. He’s cheap, plays solid defense, especially with the Green Monster out in left field, has amazing upside, and could once again turn into a hitting machine like 2018.