Let's play with the
Trade Simulator! I'm going to assume that the return roughly matches Benintendi's trade value on that site, and that the Sox are targeting players who can help in the near-term (so no Rookie Leaguers). I'm also assuming that, with Bloom's background, he is taking a special look at pitchers who are undervalued because they're not likely starters but who could be valuable multi-inning relievers.
OAKLAND
Not really any underwater contracts -- Khris Davis is a bad fit here because of Martinez and I can't see them trading Piscotty given his family circumstances. I wonder if
Chad Pinder would be a fit here, as he can play multiple positions. Oakland has a ML-ready outfield prospect in
Luis Barrera and a post-hype, maybe-successful-two-inning-reliever-instead-of-starter type in
James Kaprelian -- I don't know if we could get both, though. Barrera and
Grant Holmes? I'm meh on the matchup here.
HOUSTON
Someone on the Sox Prospects podcast pitched a Benintendi-for-Forrest Whitley deal, which obviously I would do in a heartbeat, but I doubt the Astros would be into it. More likely, I wonder if we could get
Bryan Abreu, who seems like the good version of Brusdar Graterol (either an exciting high-variance starter or a closer), and
Chas McCormick.
TEXAS
Now this one could be fun. According to the simulator, Benintendi and Christian Vazquez (the Rangers need a catcher) for Joey Gallo is an almost dead-even swap. Alternatively: Gallo and Rougned Odor cancel each other out. Less exotic: Benintendi and Vazquez for
Leody Taveras and
Joe Palumbo. Or Benintendi and Chavis for
Hans Crouse and
Bubba Thompson.
PITTSBURGH
Your guess is as good as mine. I would have assumed the Sox would be in on Joe Musgrove, but that deal doesn't make a ton of sense to me, even if we take Polanco's contract -- the Pirates could get a legit prospect or two for Musgrove, and why wouldn't you just do that instead of Benintendi? I guess if we get Taillon instead of Musgrove the math works better for a deal like that. And if you're trading prospects for Benintendi, why would you give up a
Cody Bolton?
Based on this extremely unscientific and gimmicky look at the stupid trade simulator, I would be into a big deal for Gallo, who can play CF, or trying to get Bryan Abreu from Houston.