What are the White Sox getting with Andrew Benintendi?

Picture courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea of USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this offseason, the Chicago White Sox made a big move to bolster their roster coming off a disappointing 2022 season. Free agent outfielder Andrew Benintendi was signed to the largest contract in White Sox franchise history at five years for $75 million. The signing reunites Benintendi with his former Kansas City bench coach Pedro Grifol, the new White Sox manager.

Benintendi should be a solid fit with the White Sox and given that Chicago’s ownership usually doesn’t spend big within their self-imposed budget, they are hoping his production will be worth the largest free agent deal in their history.

Benintendi had a solid 2022 season with Kansas City, making his first All-Star team and was traded to the New York Yankees before the trade deadline. He didn’t hit for much power at all, only recording five home runs, but he hit .304 and had an OPS+ of 120, 20 points above league average.

In an ideal world, his contact skills and ability to get on-base would be a good fit in the second spot in the White Sox batting order right behind All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson. Despite the loss of franchise leader and first baseman Jose Abreu, the White Sox still have a potent lineup on paper.

The White Sox defense will also be improved with Benintendi in the outfield. Eloy Jimenez has been a below-average defender in left field while also getting injured multiple times playing the position, including in 2019 and 2021. Benintendi’s reliable presence allows Jimenez to shift to DH and focus solely on his offense, which is a major strength to the White Sox lineup.

Jimenez has long had 40-home run potential and with his body shifting to a place to maximize his number of at-bats, could finally play a full slate of games in his fifth season. Thus, the signing of Benintendi not only adds a steady bat to the top of the lineup, but also helps the roster construction and defensive alignment as well.

Chicago is hoping to bounce back into the American Central division title and make a deep playoff run after a lackluster 81-win 2022 season. They are counting on Benintendi to be a big part of that hopeful resurgence.