Yankees Rumors: Royals' Andrew Benintendi Traded to NY in Exchange for 3 Prospects

After less than two full seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Andrew Benintendi is no longer with the team.

The outfielder was going to be traded to the New York Yankees for three minor leaguers.

The minor leaguers are Beck Way and T.J. Sikkema.

It's not a surprise that the Royals moved him. The team is in last place in the American League Central and he is scheduled for free agency after this season.

Kansas City got what it could in this move with an eye on the future.

There was a time when Benintendi was considered to be the future of the Boston Red Sox. When he finished in second place in the American League Freshman of the Year voting, he didn't try to temper expectations as he went on to win the World Series.

During the shortened 2020 campaign, he played just 14 games.

It was fair to wonder if he would bounce back after struggling to live up to his high expectations after being traded from Boston.

The Gold Glove winner for Kansas City last year was a pleasant surprise as he had anOPS+ of 106 after it was 99 in 2019.

He made his first career All-Star game and is batting.321/.389/.399 with three home runs and 39 runs scored.

"If he continues to rake, he could be one of the biggest prizes of this year's trade deadline, and a hefty payday could be waiting next winter," wrote a Bleacher Report writer.

For now the 28-year-old who is in the middle of his prime and just received an individual boost from his last change of scenery will focus on his second career World Series title with a top contender.

The New York Yankees are in the middle of the playoff race at 66-33, and they have plenty of pitches to hit.

He might know what it's like to be a champion on both sides of the biggest rivalry in baseball if he keeps playing well for the rest of the year.