The Mets got into the mix on a three-team deal that sent Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City.
On Wednesday night a three-team deal surprised the baseball world. The Boston Red Sox traded outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals, and the New York Mets added outfield depth to their system.
The three-way trade is done, sources tell ESPN.
Royals get: OF Andrew Benintendi
Mets get: OF Khalil Lee
Red Sox get: OF Franchy Cordero, RHP Josh Winckowski, two PTBNLs from Kansas City, one PTBNL from New York
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 11, 2021
Lee, who will turn 23 in June, was the Royals third round pick out of high school in 2016. In 399 games over four minor league seasons, Lee slashed .256/.366/.409 with 37 home runs, 192 runs batted in and 97 stolen bases. Kansas City added Lee to their 40-man roster this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
According to MLB Pipeline, the top outfield prospect in the Mets organization is Pete Crow-Armstrong, the team’s first round pick in 2020. He’s at least two full seasons away from being major league-ready, so Lee adds depth at the top of the Mets’ system immediately. He may be ready for a contributing role in New York this year, though the signing of Albert Almora Jr. may complicate his path to the bigs in 2021.
New York acquired Winckowski in the deal that sent Steven Matz to the Toronto Blue Jays in January.
