Okay. Phew.

Only other arm in the deal is a Mets prospect going to the Sox.

Royals keep their full stockpile.

Awesome deal!

So we looking at:
1 - Whit (RF)
2 - Mondesi (SS)
3 - Santana (1B)
4 - Soler (DH)
5 - Salvy (C)
6 - Benintendi (LF)
7 - Dozier (3B)
8 - Taylor (CF)
9 - Lopez (2B)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I remember covering the 2018 ALCS and thinking Andrew Benintendi had Alex Gordon&#39;s stat line with Whit Merrifield&#39;s general playing style and aesthetic, so it seemed preordained he&#39;d play for the Royals at some point.</p>&mdash; Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) <a href="https://twitter.com/rustindodd/status/1359695333568245769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Might actually be an entertaining team to watch.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Really like what KC is doing this winter. Small market team aims to win.</p>&mdash; Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1359697288201969665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Early Trade Grades:<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a>: A<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mets</a>: B <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedSox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RedSox</a>: D <br><br>Betts Bradley Benitendi<br>To<br>Renfroe<br>Cordero<br>Verdugo<br>????</p>&mdash; Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimBowdenGM/status/1359696854611619841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

If I didn’t hate Jim Bowden I’d be thrilled

Why do you hate Jim Bowden?

His Sunday program The Front Office on MLB Network Radio is an Emmy-winning show.

Seems like a great trade. Are the Red Sox just dumping payroll?

new Gordo

This move rocks!

Damn our lineup looks really solid. Just need a couple pitching arms and World Series here we come!

I think it’s more likely:

Merrifield - 2B
Benintendi - LF
Dozier - 3B
Santana - 1B
Soler - DH
Perez - C
Mondesi - SS
Taylor - CF
Olivares - RF

You stack 5 pretty good OBP guys at the top there. Deep 1-7.

Nicky Lopez will get time at 2B, too, with Merrifield going to RF. I’d just like to see them give his legs more of a break by letting him play 2B.

That’s a deep lineup. Add in the young arms and the bullpen and you’ve got the potential for a fun little run the next few years.

I wish DM could get one more starting pitcher

If Franchy can stay healthy he could do some damage in Fenway. He can certainly smash the ball. But Benintendi is exactly the kind of guy you'd expect to see in the Royals OF. He's also another guy who can take walks. He's not going to destroy the ball like Cordero but he could hit a ton of doubles and triples.

If Hanser Alberto can actually make the team we'll have some real lineup flexibility with him and Whit.

@JeffPassan: The three-way trade is done, sources tell ESPN.

Royals get: OF Andrew Benintendi

Mets get: OF Khalil Lee

Red Sox get: OF Franchy Cordero, RHP Josh Winckowski, two PTBNLs from Kansas City, one PTBNL from New York