I’ve been wanting the Yanks to upgrade their outfield for a while now, and my #1 target was KC outfielder Andrew Benintendi.
Last night the Yanks made it happen, acquiring Benintendi for 3 minor leaguers.
Benintendi is hitting .320-3-39 for KC, was on the All-Star team and has an OPS+ of 123. Although the power isn’t there, the high average should help, and Yankee Stadium should help his power numbers. Not only that, but he also won a Gold Glove last year, and has postseason experience, winning a WS ring with the 2018 Red Sox.
Benintendi was with Boston 2016-2020 and with the Royals 2021-2022. The 28-year-old lefty hitter was runner-up to Aaron Judge for ROY in 2017 when he hit .271-20-90 with 20 SB for Boston. He is a .280 career hitter. HIs 162-game average is .280-16-85, 15 SB, OPS+ 109.
With Benintendi in LF, Joey Gallo’s time with the Yankees should be ending soon. If the Yanks keep Judge in CF, RF appears to be a platoon between Aaron Hicks and Matt Carpenter, with Giancarlo Stanton DHing and playing some RF once he comes off of the IL.
Going to KC are:
#19 Yankees prospect T.J. Sikkema. 24, LHP. 1-1, 2.48 at High A Hudson Valley in 11 games, 10 starts. 54 K in 36 1/3 IP. Only 9 walks.
#21 Yankees prospect Beck Way. Turns 23 next week. RHP. He was also at High A Hudson Valley this year. 15 starts. 5-5, 3.73. 80 K in 72 1/3 IP.
Chandler Champlain. 23. RHP. 16 games at Low A Tampa, 15 starts. 2-5, 4.30. 94 K in 73 1/3 IP.
So the Yanks give up no prospect in the top 15, no prospect above High A. Benintendi may turn out to only be a rental. He is a free agent at the end of the year.
But no prospect in the top 15 means they can now turn their attention to getting a Luis Castillo, and the Reds would demand a couple of top 15 prospects for him. Also, maybe a reliever to help offset the loss of Michael King. I’m thinking of the Cubs here. Could David Robertson be a Yankee once again?
Anyway, step one is done. A couple of more moves need to be made. Make it happen, Cashman.
AAA: SWB (45-48) lost to Lehigh Valley 3-2. 2B Oswald Peraza 2 hits. #2 prospect. .255 DH Miguel Andujar 2 RBI C Ben Rortvedt 1 for 3 on REHAB SS Tyler Wade 2 hits.
Brito 6 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.21 Zach Greene 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.24 Cordero (L, 0-1) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K 3.45
AA: Somerset (56-34; won 1st half division title) won 7-4. CF Everson Pereira solo HR (1 at AA) #10 prospect. .267-10-44, 19 SB 2 levels DH Austin Wells 2 hits, RBI, Solo HR (1 at AA) #4 prospect .293-9-25, 9 SB 3 levels RF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits. #17 prospect .245 C Rodolfo Duran 2 hits, 3 RBI. 2-run HR (4) 3B Max Burt solo HR (9)
High A: Hudson Valley (48-41) lost 16-9 SS Trey Sweeney 3 hits, 2 RBI. solo HR (10) #6 prospect .245-10-42 CF Jasson Dominguez 2 RBI #3 prospect .272-10-39, 21 SB (2 levels) CF Pat DeMarco solo HR (1) 1B T.J. Rumfield 3 hits, 2 RBI DH Spencer Henson 2 RBI
Sweeney and Dominguez were pulled from the game early, fueling trade speculation. Maybe it was because of the score. Sweeney was a triple from a possible cycle. We’ll see. Until anything is official…
Sauer 2 1/3 IP, 6 R, 6 H, 4 W, 2 K. Gave up 2 HR. 1 HBP 3.87 Ruegger (L, 2-2) 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 balk 5.06 C. Gomez 1 IP, 3 R, 1 H, 4 W, 2 K. 1 balk 3.14 Alvarez 2 1/3 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR 2.73 J. Munoz 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR 4.57
Low A: Tampa (41-46) split two games. Game 1: won 10-5. Completion of suspended game. 1B Anthony Garcia 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (12) C Antonio Gomez 2-run HR (4) #18 prospect .245-4-23 3B Benjamin Cowles 2 hits CF Madison Santos 2 hits, RBI DH Ben Rice 3 for 3, 4 RBI
AA: Somerset (53-34; 1st half division champs) lost 12-11. DH Austin Wells 2 hits, RBI. #4 prospect RF Jeisson Rosario 4 hits, 4 RBI. 2-run HR (5); HIT FOR THE CYCLE SS Jesus Bastidas 2 hits, RBI 1B Chad Bell 3 hits, 3 RBI. 3-run HR (12) 2B Cristian Perez 2 hits, RBI.
Randy Vasquez 1 IP, 8 R, 6 H, 3 W, 0 K. Gave up 2 HR. 1 Balk. 4.52 #15 prospect Espinal 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 WP 2.27 Minnick 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.88 Ernst 1 IP, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.09 Ramirez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1.59 Coleman (L, 1-2) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1 WP. 2.55
High A: Hudson Valley’s game was canceled.
Low A: Tampa (40-45) won the first game 5-3. SS Alexander Vargas solo HR (6) #16 prospect .197-6-26 C Antonio Gomez 3 hits. #18 prospect .237 LF Christopher Familia 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (1)
Champlain 6 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 0 W, 11 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 WP. 4.35 Neely (W, 3-1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 4.28
The second game was suspended in the bottom of the fourth with no score.
AAA: SWB (35-42) won 4-3 in a game called in the bottom of the sixth. CF Estevan Florial 2 for 2, 2 RBI. 2 solo HR (9) #29 prospect. .307-9-27, 26 SB. SS Oswald Peraza solo HR (10) # 2 prospect .242-10-25 1B Ron Guzman 2 hits.
With Florial’s numbers above, and also the fact Miguel Andujar is hitting .315 at AAA, Yankees’ fans are getting a little upset that the Yanks continue sticking with Joey Gallo and Aaron Hicks. They’d rather see Andujar or Florial, or make a deal for someone like Bryan Reynolds, Ian Happ, Andrew Benintendi or Anthony Santander. We’ll see if a move is made this month, and what move.
AA: Somerset (45-29, 1st half division champs) lost 9-6, as their pitchers walked 12 batters, hit a batter and threw a WP. SS Anthony Volpe solo HR #1 prospect .242-11-41, 30 SB DH Brandon Lockridge 2 hits #17 prospect .237 C Rodolfo Duran 2 RBI 3B Chad Bell solo HR (10) LF Michael Beltre 2 for 2, 2 RBI. Solo HR (4)
Luis Medina (L, 2-3) 2 2/3 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 H, 5 W, 3 K. 2 WP 3.65 #11 prospect Minnick 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 W, 2 K. 3.41 Myatt 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K 1.93 Ernst 1/3 IP, 2 R, 0 H, 4 W, 1 K. 4.20 Jennings 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP 4.86
High A: Hudson Valley (37-37) won 2-1. 3B Tyler Hardman solo HR (10) LF Pat DeMarco 2 hits.
Y. Gomez 3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1.23 J. Munoz (W, 3-1) 3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1 HBP 4.84 Miller (S, 1) 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 5.30
Low A: Tampa (33-41) won 3-2. SS Alexander Vargas 2 hits, RBI. #16 prospect .186
Champlain (W, 2-4) 5 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 8 K. 1 balk 3.79 Cortijo (H, 6) 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 3 K. 4.33 van Zijll (S, 2) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 5.25
Standings SWB 8th in 10 team division, IL East. 7 GB
Somerset 6th and last in 6 team division at 1-4, 3 GB. Eastern League Northeast. Somerset won the first half division crown with a record of 44-25.
Hudson Valley 5th in six team division, 3-5. 2 GB. Finished 3rd in 1st half with a record of 34-32, 9 GB.
Tampa 6-2 leads the Florida State League West. They finished 6th and last in the first half with a record of 27-39.
Low A: Tampa (29-39) won both games of a doubleheader. Game 1: Won 5-4. C Austin Wells 2 RBI. 2-run HR (1). #4 prospect dropped from High A to here for rehab purposes. 3B Marcos Cabrera 2 hits. LF Grant Richardson 2 hits, RBI 2B Roberto Chirinos 2 hits, RBI
Champlain 6 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 0 W, 6 K. Gave up HR. 4.15 Neely 2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1 WP 4.36 Milam (W, 5-3) 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.71
Game 2: Won 8-0. C Antonio Gomez 2 hits, RBI. #18 prospect. .214 CF Madison Santos 2-run HR (3) SS Benjamin Cowles 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (6) RF Richardson 2 for 2, RBI. Solo HR (6)
The Yanks signed 30-year-old utility man Chris Owings to a minor league deal and he’ll go to SWB. Owings has played for the Diamondbacks (2013-2018), Royals (2019), Red Sox (2019), Rockies (2020-2021) and Orioles (2022). He was only 6 for 56 with the Orioles this season. He is a depth piece who can play 2B, SS, 3B and all three OF positions. He’s even closed out two games where his team was getting blown out (hope not to see that!). He’s hit .239 in his MLB career, OPS+ 72. He led MLB with 11 triples in 2016. His 162 game average is .239-8-50 with 18 SB.
AA: Somerset (41-21) won 4-3. SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits. Yanks #1 prospect .235 C Josh Breaux 2 hits. #25 prospect .225 DH Brandon Lockridge 3 hits, 2 RBI. #17 prospect .247 1B Mickey Gasper 2 hits
Randy Vasquez 5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.36 #15 prospect Espinal (W, 2-0) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.28 Craft (H, 2) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.79 Ramirez (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K 2.08
High A: Hudson Valley (31-31) lost both games of a DH, and were shutout in both games. Game 1: Lost 2-0.
Beck Way (L, 3-3) 5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 W, 5 K. 1 WP 4.29 #21 prospect C. Gomez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.76
Game 2: lost 1-0. DH Everson Pereira 2 hits #10 prospect .263
Low A: Tampa (26-36) lost 7-6. CF Jasson Dominguez (“The Martian”) 2 hits, RBI. #3 prospect .258 LF Grant Richardson 3 for 3, walk, 2 RBI.
Champlain 4 2/3 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 3 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2 WP. 4.29 Anderson (L, 2-3) 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 HBP 2.45 Neely 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1 WP 4.97 van Zijll 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.45
STANDINGS SWB 8th (out of 10) in IL East, 11 1/2 back Somerset 1st in Eastern League Northeast by 1 game Hudson Valley 3rd in South Atlantic League North, 11 back Tampa 6th (Last) in Florida State League West, 13 1/2 back
AAA: Ken Waldichuk pitched well but got no run support as SWB (17-29) lost 3-0. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits (#2 prospect) .214 1B Greg Bird 3 hits .207
Waldichuk (L, 0-1 in AAA) 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 W, 7 K. 1 WP. 1 HBP. (# 6 prospect) McClain 0 IP, 2 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 8.10 Shelby Miller 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1.89 Weber 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.45
This was Waldichuk’s 2nd start for AAA after being called up. Overall this year, AA and AAA, he is 4-1, 1.38 in eight starts, with 62 K in 39 IP. In 41 minor league games, 39 starts, he is 10-6, 2.78 with 274 K in 178 1/3 IP.
AA: Somerset (28-15) won 9-6. Good game for #1 prospect Anthony Volpe. SS Volpe 4 hits, RBI. .204 RF Elijah Dunham 2 hits (#26 prospect) .242 DH Jeisson Rosario 2 hits, 3 RBI 2B Jesus Bastidas 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (2) 1B Mickey Gasper 2-run HR (1)
Brito (W, 5-2) 5 2/3 IP, 6 R, 8 H, 0 W, 8 K. gave up 2 HR. 2.36 Loseke (H, 2) 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.50 Craft (S, 4) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.28
High A: Hudson Valley (19-24) lost 6-2. 1B Eric Wagaman solo HR (4)
Castano 5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. 3.41 Hutchison (H, 1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 4.15 Correa (L, 0-1; BS, 1) 2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 W, 0 K. 2.20 Miller 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 9.00
Low A: Tampa (20-24) lost 6-2. C Ben Rice 2 hits, RBI.
Champlain (L, 1-3) 5 2/3 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 1 W, 6 K. Gave up 2 HR. 3.00 van Zijll 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 4 K. 0.00
The Sommer Frieze 
