Royals vs. Yankees Thursday MLB odds: Andrew Benintendi likely to debut, expected to end Joey Gallo's tenure in New York

The MLB Trade Deadline is next Tuesday afternoon, and more often than not there isn't a ton of major action until about 24 hours before said deadline. However, it's also a few days later this year because of the lockout, and the Yankees may have kickstarted a trading frenzy Wednesday night by acquiring All-Star outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Royals for prospects. New York is again World Series co-favorites with the Dodgers at +350 per Caesars Sportsbook. Ironically, Kansas City is in the Bronx tonight and Benintendi is likely to debut for his new team.

If the Yankees were ever in the Juan Soto Sweepstakes, and by most reports they were only on the fringes, they are surely out now. Outfield was a major position of need because both Joey Gallo and Aaron Hicks are struggling massively at the plate and Hicks tends to get injured. Benintendi is hitting .320 this season with 14 doubles, three homers, 39 RBI and four stolen bases. His 34 multi-hit games rank first in the American League, while he is third in batting average, tied for second in hits (111) and sixth in on-base percentage (.387). He also plays Gold Glove-caliber defense.

There had been reports a week or two ago that the Yankees were out on Benintendi because he's not vaccinated for COVID and thus can't play in Toronto. New York still has one more regular-season series there and could face the Blue Jays in the postseason. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported today that Benintendi plans to get vaccinated and told the Royals as much. That was conveyed to other teams and heated up his market in a big way. Toronto actually was after him as well.

"He's a really good player," said Aaron Judge. "I've had a chance to play against him for quite a few years when he was playing over in Boston. I've seen a lot of impressive things. … He'll definitely be a big piece to what we got going on here."

Benintendi played for the Red Sox from 2016-2020 and was on the 2018 World Series team that beat the Yankees in the ALDS. His arrival by all reports means the end of Joey Gallo's tenure with the Yankees is nigh; he has been arguably the worst hitter in baseball with a .161 average, .285 on-base percentage and 103 strikeouts (almost as many Ks as Benintendi has hits) in 230 at-bats.

Yankees fans boo every time Gallo, who has been benched three of the past four games, comes to the plate at this point, and the team is trying to trade him. Gallo also could be designated for assignment to free up a roster spot for Benintendi.

"He's waiting for something to happen," a source of Gallo's mindset told NJ Advance Media. The Yankees also are not done trading -- they will likely add a starting pitcher and are eyeing Cincinnati's Luis Castillo.

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