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Phillies’ path to acquiring Andrew Benintendi just got easier

By Gabrielle Starr

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 17: Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox catches the final out of the game during the ninth inning of game four of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on October 17, 2018 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 17: Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox catches the final out of the game during the ninth inning of game four of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on October 17, 2018 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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Andrew Benintendi’s vaccination status will impact his trade future

If the Philadelphia Phillies are truly interested in acquiring Andrew Benintendi by the trade deadline, their path to him just cleared.

On Wednesday afternoon, news broke that Benintendi was one of ten Kansas City Royals players on the 26-man roster still unvaccinated, and therefore, unable to enter Canada for this week’s series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The unvaccinated players – Benintendi, Whit Merrifield, M.J. Melendez, Hunter Dozier, Brad Keller, Brady Singer, Michael A. Taylor, Kyle Isbel, Dylan Coleman, and Cam Gallagher – comprise 40% of the roster and are the most players to miss a Toronto series this year. As Jeff Passan noted,

"Up until today, 25 total visiting players had not been allowed into Canada because they were unvaccinated. Kansas City by itself has 10 — including four of its five top hitters and its two best starters."

The situation is so dire, the Royals were forced to call up Double-A players along with those from Triple-A.

The Phillies just dealt with the same issue for their two-game set in the 6, as four of their healthy players – Aaron Nola, Kyle Gibson, J.T. Realmuto, and Alec Bohm – remain unvaccinated as well. Of course, the Phillies play in Toronto once in a season at most.

Benintendi’s vaccination status (or lack thereof) is guaranteed to impact his trade value. Less than a day later, it’s presumed no American League East team will touch him now. There were rumors that the Yankees were eyeing their former Boston rival, but MLB insider Jon Heyman confirmed Thursday that their interest quickly waned:

"Yankees are unlikely to continue pursuit of Andrew Benintendi since he is unvaccinated. NYY has 6 games left in Toronto and could meet Jays in playoffs. Yanks are the one team to send their complete roster to play in Toronto."

Every team in the AL East is currently above .500, and the division holds all three wild cards. None of them will be willing to give up anything for a guy who can’t play in Toronto when all signs point to an AL East bloodbath in September and the early rounds of the postseason.

Will the Phillies target Andrew Benintendi at the trade deadline?

The Phillies need outfield help, and Benintendi, who won a Gold Glove last year and is an All-Star next week, is a top target. He’s hitting .317/.386/.401 with a .786 OPS, 14 doubles, two triples, and three home runs in 87 games. The significant reduction in power aside (his HR rate dropped from 3.2% last year to 0.8% this year), he’d be an upgrade for the Phillies if he can continue producing.

Benintendi also brings postseason experience to a team that has virtually none. The Boston Red Sox won the AL East three seasons in a row from 2016-18, and in the final year, won a franchise-record 108 games and bulldozed their way to their fourth championship in this millennium. All the way on the other end of the spectrum, the Phillies own the longest postseason drought in the NL, and Jean Segura and Realmuto lead all active MLB players in career regular-season games played without making an appearance in October.

Most, if not all AL teams will be wary of acquiring Benintendi now, which should somewhat clear a path for the Phillies, though there are other National League teams interested, as well; the Padres have also been linked to Benintendi.

While adding another unvaccinated player to the roster is a risk, the Phillies should at least consider Benintendi. On the other hand, the chances of a Phillies-Blue Jays World Series are minuscule, but not impossible.

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