The signing of free-agent left fielder Andrew Benintendi made the White Sox outfield better defensively, and it added a needed left-handed hitter to first-year manager Pedro Grifol’s lineup, probably in the No. 2 spot behind shortstop Tim Anderson.
At $75 million for five years, it also set a franchise record for largest deal in franchise history — more evidence of baseball’s freewheeling spending this offseason than some newfound Sox will to win at all costs. If it drains the $15 million average annual cut from their 2023 budget, indications are the Sox are about done “throwing money” at their offseason needs.
