Outfielder Andrew Benintendi and the Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $10 million, two-year contract on Saturday.
He will earn $3.4 million this year and $6.6 million in 2021.
The 25-year-old hit .277 with 51 homers and 259 RBIs in his first three-plus seasons in the major leagues. In 2018, he led all players with 15 runs in the postseason while helping the Red Sox win the World Series. His game-ending catch in Game 4 of the ALCS was The Associated Press "Play of the Year" across all sports.
Benintendi was selected by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2015 June Draft. He has been Boston’s starting left fielder on Opening Day in each of the last three seasons (2017-19), and in that time he leads all major league outfielders with 32 assists.
The left-handed hitter hit .266 with 13 homers, 68 RBIs and 10 stolen bases last year, when he made $717,500. Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Benintendi had asked for $4.15 million and had been offered $3.4 million when proposed salaries were exchanged last month.
Twelve players remain scheduled for arbitration hearings, which run through Feb. 21, including Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.
Teams have won all three hearings this year, involving Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson, Atlanta reliever Shane Greene and Minnesota pitcher Jose Berrios.
