Red Sox Send Andrew Benintendi to Royals in 3-Team Trade With Mets

Benintendi, a first-round pick in 2015, played for the Red Sox for five seasons and was a key piece of Boston's 2018 World Series championship.

The Red Sox have traded outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the Royals in a three-team deal that also involves the Mets, the team announced Wendesday evening.

The Royals will receive Benintendi, while the Mets will get outfield prospect Khalil Lee from Kansas City. The Red Sox will receive outfielder Franchy Cordero and two players to be named later from the Royals, as well as right-handed pitcher Josh Winckowski and a player to be named later from the Mets.

Forever a part of Red Sox history.
Thank you, Benny. pic.twitter.com/2EcKzD5rwl

— Red Sox (@RedSox) February 11, 2021

ESPN's Jeff Passan, MLB Network's Jon Heyman and Robert Murray of FanSided had previously reported on the trade.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports

Benintendi, 26, was the No. 7 pick in the 2015 draft and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2017. He hit .279/.355/.448 over the next two seasons before struggling with injuries and poor performance in 2020. Benintendi played in just 14 games, going 4-for-39 with 17 strikeouts in 52 plate appearances last year. He's set to hit free agency after the 2022 season.

Lee, 22, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 8 prospect in the Royals' system. A third-round pick in 2016, he hit .264/.363/.372 with eight home runs and 53 stolen bases in 129 games at the Double-A level in 2019.

Cordero, 26, debuted with the Padres in 2017 and was traded to the Royals in July 2020. In 95 career games, he's hit .236/.304/.433 with 12 home runs and eight stolen bases. Winckowski, 22, was acquired by the Mets from the Blue Jays in the Steven Matz trade earlier this offseason.