ANDREW BENINTENDI IS A NEW YORK YANKEE!

Huge get and it happened just a short time ago.  Jack Curry I think was the first, I could be wrong (love that guy. But here is Jeff Passan's tweet.  Andrew Benintendi is a New York Yankee!

The New York Yankees are finalizing a deal to acquire outfielder Andrew Benintendi from Kansas City, sources tell ESPN. Three minor leaguers will be headed back to the Royals.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2022

Now who are those minor leaguers?  Beck Way, Chandler Champlain and TJ Sikkema.  I really don't know much about them, but no question going to the Royals may get them a better shot at making to the bigs.

For Benintendi, this is a great get. He's a terrific fit.

CBS Sports writes:

"Benintendi, 28, owns a .321/.389/.399 batting line with three home runs this season, which earned him his first All-Star Game berth. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the season."

I look forward to watching this guy in New York! Gonna be fun!

Welcome Andrew... let's get after it.

More from BYB's own Jeana Bellezza in the morning!

LOCKOUT LEADS TO LANDING OF MATT OLSON

Now as you all know, we are waiting. And while waiting we can be speculating right? During a lockout like the one we are all experiencing, general managers are prohibited from talking or making trades involving players on the 40-man roster with opposing teams. But as The Athletic suggests, we as fans aren't prohibited from chatting it up and over the last several weeks, we have speculated, we have shared our thoughts and you have shared yours. The talk on the street, from fans, reporters and other insiders believe that once the lockout ends, the Yankees strike. And their first move is for first baseman Matt Olson.

Source: CBS Sports

According to SI.com, "On January 18, Jim Bowden of The Athletic floated a possible trade scenario that could see the Yankees land Olson. In this proposal, the Yankees offer their No. 3 prospect in shortstop Oswald Peraza, promising young pitcher Luis Gil (No. 4 ranked prospect), and maybe throw in right-hander Randy Vasquez (No. 20 ranked prospect) and/or righty Beck Way (No. 22 ranked prospect)." Woah. That is some kind of trade. All of those prospects for 27-year-old lefty bat? Will that be worth it?

"Olson’s left-handed power bat is the perfect fit for the short porch in Yankee Stadium. This move would also help provide balance to a right-handed heavy lineup by inserting Olson in the middle of the order," reports SI.com. 

Source: Associated Press

A couple of weeks I floated the idea of Freddie Freeman to swoop in and free the Yankees of their pennant drought. Recall my words in the post, FREEMAN COULD FILL THE BIG SHOES TEIXEIRA LEFT BEHIND! "Seems like the first base facelift has been a trend for the Yankees. Before bringing in Tex in 2009, the Yankees brought in Jason Giambi to replace Tino Martinez who replaced Don Mattingly. Since Teixeira, it has been a revolving door at the corner and if the Yankees act quickly and think beyond shortstop, they could have themselves a franchise player who could bring in a championship in the next couple of seasons or sooner." Swap out Freeman for Olsen? The A's notoriously look to keep their payroll lean, so they may be more apt to trade with the non-division Yankees and find happiness with lower salary rookies.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Olsen brings a heavy bat and two gold gloves along with youth; the kind of impact player that can consistently put the ball in play on this Yankee roster. Olson needs to come in swinging in order to shake up the clubhouse and help this lifeless team gain some momentum in 2022. Will it happen? The Yankees are expected to make a big move as soon as the lockout lifts. This could be the first of a few transactions that the Yankees make in pursuit of a championship. Landing Olson could be a playmaker and game changer for the future of this team. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

AUSTIN WELLS IS READY TO HIT DINGERS FOR THE YANKEES

During the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday night, the Yankees drafted Austin Wells 28th overall. This actually is not the first time that the Yankees drafted Wells. He was originally picked in the 35th round in 2018, but Wells is thankful for the past two years to continue improving his skills.

In 2017, Wells hurt his elbow after emerging as a top prospect, and was not able to play in his senior year season at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. Despite the injury, the Yankees still drafted him. At the time, Wells decided it would be best to continue with his commitment to the University of Arizona and pass on signing a professional contract.

"So I’m super thankful … not thankful that (my injury) happened, but I’m thankful that I was able to go through this process because I feel so much more prepared to play baseball at the next level," said Wells.

Wells dominated in Arizona, putting up a .353/.462/.552 and becoming the first Wildcat to be named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Before the pandemic cut his sophomore season short, he was batting .375 with a .527 on-base percentage. In only one and a half seasons with the Wildcats, he finished with 99 hits, 7 home runs, and 74 RBIs. 

“God has an interesting path sometimes,” Austin’s father, Greg Wells, said via Tucson.com. “If you look at where Austin is at today versus where he would have been signing out of high school, he’s a better person, a better man, more educated.”

In a conference call with the New York media for the first time Wells, who is a catcher by trade, was addressing concerns scouts have had about his defense and the prospect of remaining behind the plate long-term. 

“I’m a catcher, and I want to be a catcher, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get to the big leagues,” Wells said. “So, if that’s at another position, I’ll just hit home runs at Yankee Stadium and play wherever they need me to, wherever my bat gets me to the big leagues the quickest.”

Besides potentially changing positions, one more obstacle Wells will have to face one more adjustment: shaving off his beard. However, he doesn't seem too worried about this and is willing to trade his beard for pinstripes.

In addition to Wells, the Yankees also drafted Trevor Hauver, a LF from Arizona State and Beck Way, a RHP from Northwest Florida State.

Exciting times for the Yankees farm system.  We will have more about Austin Wells from new BYB writer Anthony Orlando tomorrow.

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke