Red Sox to send Royals $2.8 million as part of Benintendi trade

NEW YORK — Boston will send Kansas City $2.8 million as part of the Feb. 10 three-team trade that moved outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the Royals.

The Red Sox agreed in the deal to make four payments of $466,666.67 on the 15th of each month from April through July, and two payments of $466,666.66 on the 15th of August and September, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.

Boston’s payments will offset some of the $6.6 million Benintendi is owed by the Royals in the final season of his two-year, $10 million contract.

Kansas City sent Boston outfielder Franchy Cordero and two players to be named.

Boston also received minor league right-hander Josh Winckowski and a player to be named from the New York Mets. The Mets received outfielder Khalil Lee from the Royals.

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, Benintendi was second in AL Rookie of the Year balloting in ’17. He hit .290 with 16 homers and 87 RBIs the following year while helping Boston win a franchise-record 108 regular-season games en route to the World Series title.

He slumped to a .103 average with one RBI in 39 at-bats during the pandemic-shortened 2000 season, when he was hampered by a strained ribcage that prevented him from playing after Aug. 11.

Benintendi has a .273 average with 51 home runs, 260 RBIs and 53 stolen bases in five major league seasons, and his 32 assists in the last four years led big league outfielders.

He is eligible for salary arbitration next winter and for free agency after the 2022 season.