Benintendi tabbed 'name to watch' if Phillies trade for OF

Will the seemingly rebuilding Royals look to move left fielder Andrew Benintendi? Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Royals' Andrew Benintendi tabbed 'name to watch' if Phillies trade for outfielder

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/29/22

Philadelphia Phillies MVP outfielder Bryce Harper is on the shelf for at least six weeks due to a broken thumb. The Kansas City Royals are in clear rebuild mode and have already perhaps started their fire sale by shipping off first baseman Carlos Santana.

With the MLB trade deadline approaching, the two teams could be a match made in heaven. MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Wednesday that there's a particular "name to watch" on the Royals roster if the Phillies are seeking a temporary replacement for Harper.

Andrew Benintendi is one name to watch if #Phillies trade for an outfielder, as I mentioned on @MLBNetwork a short time ago. He's on an expiring contract, is having an All-Star year with the #Royals and won a World Series title in Boston with current Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 29, 2022

The seventh-overall draft pick in 2015, Benintendi is having a strong 2022 campaign, entering Wednesday with a .303/.368/.391 slash line with three home runs and 27 RBIs. "Benny" leads all Kansas City hitters in hits (82), batting average and on-base percentage.

The addition of Benintendi would also shore up a much-criticized Phillies outfield on defense, one that currently includes Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber. The 2017 Rookie of the Year runner-up with the Boston Red Sox earned his first career Gold Glove award during his first season with the Royals in 2021.

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