The New York Yankees acquired All-Star Andrew Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, the first of what could be a flurry of moves ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
In exchange for Benintendi, the Yankees will send the Royals three minor league pitching prospects: Beck Way, Chandler Champlain, and T.J. Sikkema are all right-handers.
This year, Benintendi was named to his first MLB All-Star Game. He’s had a career-high batting average through Wednesday. In 93 games this season, he batted 320 with three home runs and 39 RBI.
Benintendi hit .276 with 17 home runs and 73 RBI in his first season with the Royals, earning a Gold Glove. He was acquired by Kansas City from the Boston Red Sox in a three-team trade that also included the Mets in February 2021.
Benintendi was one of ten Royals players who did not travel to Toronto for a four-game series against the Blue Jays earlier this month because they had not received the COVID-19 vaccination.
With the Yankees (66-33) leading the American League East, it’s unclear whether Benintendi will get vaccinated. From September 26 to 28, New York will play in Toronto.
Champlain, 23, was drafted in the ninth round last year and went 2-5 with a 4.30 ERA in 15 starts and one relief appearance for Class A Tampa.
Sikkema, 24, was selected in the competitive balance round A of the 2019 draft and had a 1-1 record with a 2.48 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearances for Class A Hudson Valley.
Way, 22, was drafted in the fourth round two years ago and went 5-5 with a 3.73 ERA in 15 starts for Hudson Valley.
The Royals begin a series at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.
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