Report: Former Yankees OF Andrew Benintendi, White Sox Agree to 5-Year, $75M Contract

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, veteran outfielder Andrew Benintendi has agreed to a five-year, $75 million deal with the Chicago White Bears.

Rogers reported the deal.

He was with the Kansas City Royals for four months before he was traded to the New York Yankees. He had a mixed bag at the plate.

Benintendi hit five home runs in 126 games, but his isolated power fell from.166 to.095.

He set personal bests for batting average and on- base percentage while posting a wOBA that was above his career average.

The All-Star team reflected the lack of alternatives on the Royals rather than Benintendi's value.

He set the bar high when he first started playing baseball. He was the runner-up to Judge in the American League rookies of the year voting, and then posted a slash line of.290/366/.465 while playing defense. He had a 4.9 WAR and was 18th among position players.

The 2015 first-round pick failed to match that level and may not be able to carry his numbers over the course of the next five years.

His.352 batting average was the seventh- highest among hitters with at least 500 plate appearances.

Benintendi's success was due to a change in his mindset. He shared how he learned to play to his strengths.

I don't think I'm going to hit 35 homers. Get on base, be a tough out, use the whole field. It came together this year. It is difficult to hit a ball out of the stadium. The ball was sprayed all over the field. You're susceptible to an off-speed pitch if you try to go straight right fielder. If you're early, I'm going straight up the middle. You have the left field line if you are late.

He struck out at his lowest rate ever and changed his stance at the plate. He had the lowest percentage of balls in play to right field and the highest percentage to center field.

Although he won't hit the elite tier, he has adapted to become a steady hitter who patrols the outfielders.

The addition won't change Chicago's offense, but it does address a need.

Pollock, who played most of the season in left field, hit free agency. There is a young option at the position and a solid hitter to help fill the void left by Jose Abreu.