What A Pirates Trade for Andrew Benintendi May Look Like
Over the last couple of days, rumors have been heating up surrounding Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi. The Red Sox are in the middle of a rebuild themselves and are looking to unload the 26-year-old, who played in just 14 games last season due to injuries. There are several teams interested in the outfielder services, including the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers, but one surprise is that the Pittsburgh Pirates were also reported as an interested team. This is not a move the Pirates typically make, but at 26-years-old, and with two years of control left, Benintendi could be a guy that is a low-risk, high reward type of move.
With Benintendi being so young, he fits into the Pirate's plans of competing again in 2023, and if he is able to bounce back, could be a candidate for the Pirates to extend or he could be flipped at the trade deadline for more prospects to build up the system. However, just like in any Pirates trade, the team would need to get some prospects to go along with Benintendi. For the Red Sox, one of their biggest needs is MLB ready starting pitching and second baseman help and the Pirates have that. Today, we look at a possible trade scenario that helps both teams giving the Pirates prospects and a bat for this year while checking off both of the Red Sox biggest needs this off-season.
Boston Red Sox Get: RHP Joe Musgrove and 2B Adam Frazier
In order to get a big return, you have to give a big return and that's what the Pirates are doing here. Two of their biggest trade chips check off two boxes for the Boston Red Sox, and both players come at affordable prices. With the Red Sox still very much in the market for free agent Jackie Bradley Jr., this gives them affordable pieces to add to their club this season. Adam Frazier would step in and immediately fill the void at second base, and Joe Musgrove could be inserted in the starting rotation. He would most likely be a #3 starter behind Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez and would provide consistency to the starting rotation.
Frazier is one of the top defensive second basemen in Major League Baseball and has been nominated for a Gold Glove Award in each of the past two seasons. His .994 fielding percentage in 2020, was the highest among NL second baseman and he finished second in voting behind Kolten Wong. Offensively, he has been consistent throughout his career, hitting above the .270 mark in every year but 2020. A slow start doomed him, and he finished the year hitting .230 with seven home runs and 23 RBI. He isn't going to be a star on your team by any means, but he provides solid defense and a consistent bat with the ability to go over the wall from time-to-time.
With Musgrove, you are getting a young, controllable starter, who is going to give you a quality start more often than not. He is still entering the prime years of his career, and 2020 was one of his best showings to date. After only making three starts and heading to the disabled list, Musgrove came back stronger than ever in September. He made five starts for the Pirates and posted a 2.16 ERA, including 13 straight scoreless innings to end the season. Musgrove is looking to build on that momentum in 2021 and could fit right in the middle of the Red Sox starting rotation. He is still relatively young at 28-years-old and gives the Red Sox two years of control and some pitching depth for the Major League level.
Pittsburgh Pirates Get: OF Andrew Benintendi, OF Gilberto Jimenez, and C Kole Cottam
In any deal involving the Pirates, there have to be prospects involved to help bolster the Minor Leagues. In this deal, the Pirates get help both at the Major League level and the Minor Leagues. If a deal is made, Benintendi would step right in either left or right field, with Gregory Polanco playing the other corner outfield position. This would move Bryan Reynolds to centerfield, and allow Anthony Alford to serve as the fourth outfielder. Benintendi had a down year in 2020 but only played in 14 games due to injury. However, he put up solid numbers in 2019, hitting .266 with 13 home runs and 68 RBI in 138 games played. He doesn't give you major power, but he has the ability to hit the ball over the wall, and a step out of the Major Spotlight might help Benintendi. Plus, he is only 26-years-old and could be a part of the next competitive Pirates team if the goal is to compete in 2023.
As far as a top prospect goes, the Red Sox are going to be reluctant to part with a guy like Tristan Casas or Bryan Mata, but I could see the Pirates being able to get #5 overall prospect Gilberto Jiminez. Jiminez played with short-season Lowell last season and showed an ability to slap the ball around with a .359 average, three home runs, and 19 RBI. He has a future 55 hit grade and a 60 fielding grade, out of 80, and could develop into a nice contact hitter. His run grade of 70 ranks among the top tier of prospects and could help him on the base paths. Scouts are saying he has to make adjustments with his swing, but when he gets on base he can be a force to be reckoned with.
The final part of this deal addresses two needs for the Pirates, a catcher, and power depth. You aren't going to find Kole Cottam on any of the Red Sox Top 30 prospects lists, but he had had success at every level of the Minor Leagues. He played for Class Low-A Greenville in 2019 and hit .255 with six home runs and 34 RBI. He has shown ok power to this point, but his gap power has been the most impressive as he finished 4th on the team with 21 doubles. He has also developed nicely at catcher with a .994 fielding percentage while allowing four passed balls in 582 innings of work. After the Minor League season cancellation, the 23-year-old will most likely start the season with Advanced-A or possibly Double-A if you want to be aggressive. He is probably the most questionable part of this deal, but if he develops right, would be a valued catching prospect in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates are one of several competitors for Benintendi's services, and there is no guarantee that a deal between the two teams happens. The thing the Pirates have going for them is that Ben Cherrington was Benintendi's former General Manager. He is a young piece and if he does well the Pirates can either decide to extend him into their winning window or flip him for prospects at the deadline to continue building the farm system. Cherrington and his staff refuse to use the word "rebuild" during this time and instead have called it a "build". This is a move that would prove they are still building onto the Major League club while keeping their mind focused on what's ahead in the future.
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