Chicago White Sox get blunt Andrew Benintendi warning in latest power rankings

ESPN released their weekly MLB power rankings on Thursday, and the White Sox jumped from 23rd to 14th. However, their ranking also came with a warning that their continuing to put Andrew Benintendi in the lineup could doom what has been a promising season:

“The longer the White Sox hang in the playoff race, the more they might have an Andrew Benintendi problem. The 31-year-old has looked old beyond his years, with 14th percentile bat speed, per Statcast, and a spike in strikeout rate. The defense and baserunning metrics that once provided a solid floor for his value have also cratered, and at some point, his role as a fifth outfielder/DH against righties becomes an obvious upgrade opportunity for general manager Chris Getz.

“The complication: Benintendi still has another season and a half to go on the five-year, $75 million contract he signed before the 2023 season. Can the White Sox accept that this is a sunk cost when the time comes? The answer might have real ramifications on the AL playoff race when it comes to the overachieving White Sox.”

In seven Major League seasons before signing with Chicago, Benintendi hit .279/.351/.431 and averaged 15 home runs, 83 RBI, and 15 stolen bases per 162 games.

The year before the White Sox inked him to the deal, he hit .304/.373/.399 with five home runs and 51 RBI.

Since signing with the Chicago, though, Benintendi is hitting just .244/.307/.390. While he has a pair of 20-home run seasons, he is not hitting or producing enough for the team.

This year, he is slashing .239/.288/.380 with three home runs and 21 RBI. Benintendi has also struck out 45 times in 45 games, and has walked just 11 times.

Needless to say, Chicago needs more out of him or they must find a way to replace in their lineup, even if that means eating the rest of his contract.