Mets Trade Rumors: Why Andrew Benintendi is not the outfielder to target

It’s not trading season, yet, early New York Mets trade rumors for the upcoming offseason are already popping up. The latest is a blockbuster deal idea involving Noah Syndergaard to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Andrew Benintendi.

In a recent piece published by NJ.com, writer Mike Rosenstein took a look at a potential offseason trade for the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox to make. Citing Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe, the two pled the case for why one of the big Mets trade rumors we should see in the coming months should include one of Boston’s outfielder.

It’s not Mookie Betts in these fictionalized Mets trade rumors. Andrew Benintendi is the guy each believes matches up well for New York in a potential trade which would send Noah Syndergaard to Beantown.

This isn’t the first time Benintendi’s name has come up in Mets trade rumors. Albeit this isn’t an actual rumor, there’s some juice the speculation. After all, the Red Sox were one of the primary teams mentioned in summer Mets trade rumors involving Edwin Diaz. Syndergaard could be up next.

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Boston could using a starting pitcher and they have a surplus of options in the outfield with several prospects ready to make the leap to the big leagues. Losing Benintendi would hurt—especially in their trips to Yankee Stadium. Benintendi has been a killer of the New York Yankees for a good part of his career.

From the perspective of the Mets, I see why the name is intriguing. Benintendi is a 25-year-old with some great tools. In many ways, he’s Michael Conforto with a better batting average and less power. Here lies my hesitation. The Mets already have a guy way too similar.

Sure, the Mets could use another outfielder. Preferably, they need a right-handed hitting one who plays center field. Benintendi has served the Red Sox primarily as a left fielder while swinging from the left side. Unless another move is made, I’m not quite sure I dig this idea.

Trading Syndergaard opens up a can of worms in itself. Depending on where Zack Wheeler pitches in 2020 will say a lot about whether or not the Mets deal Thor anywhere. A rotation led by Jacob deGrom is already at an advantage compared to the rest of the league. However, if his two generals are Steven Matz and the version of Marcus Stroman we saw with the Mets in the final two months, I’m not so sure the team is better even with Benintendi in the lineup.

Among all the things Brodie Van Wagenen has said in his tenure, the best way about his reluctance to fill a hole which requires him to create another. A Syndergaard for Benintendi swap doesn’t exactly check off all of the boxes of moving surplus for what the Mets demand.

I like Benintendi and would get a kick out of hearing New York sports radio callers unfamiliar with his name try to pronounce it. That said, he’s not the ideal candidate to acquire in a swap for Syndergaard even if his lengthy last name meets the required minimum quota of letters used.

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Center field is a major need for the Mets. With very few true center fielders who fit and are logical choices, I expect the Metropolitans to at least attempt to pull something unique out of their sleeve.