Andrew Benintendi wants to emphasize that his departure from the Yankees wasn’t motivated by financial considerations. Instead, he chose to sign with the Chicago White Sox, driven by his desire to win, despite the team’s sporadic postseason appearances over the past 14 years.
In January, Benintendi’s decision to join the White Sox on a five-year, $75 million contract left Yankees fans disappointed.
Benintendi recently shared with the Chicago Sun-Times that he prefers to keep his financial matters private. “I’d rather stay under the radar in terms of my contract,” he said. “If I go unnoticed, that’s fine by me.”
He stressed that his focus is on winning and adding another championship ring to his collection. “Money is secondary to me,” Benintendi explained. “I’m committed to battling for a win.
I understand I’ll be asked about this often, but athletes talking about money isn’t what fans want to hear. My approach remains unchanged; I won’t treat people differently or alter my behavior. It’s just the result of my hard work and the support I’ve received.”
It’s worth noting that while the Yankees haven’t clinched a championship in the last 13 seasons, their postseason appearances are unmatched. Re-signing Aaron Judge was the Yankees’ top priority, followed by bringing back Anthony Rizzo. Keeping Benintendi was also a major goal, as stated by club officials. However, there was speculation that Benintendi preferred a smaller market, closer to his Midwest roots.