The Nationals traded Jon Rauch to Arizona today for prospect Emilio Bonifacio.
From the Nationals:
The Washington Nationals today acquired second baseman Emilio Bonifacio from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch. Bonifacio was optioned to Triple-A Columbus of the International League. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.
The switch-hitting Bonifacio entered the 2008 season rated as Arizona’s No. 6 prospect according to Baseball America. The same publication also cited Bonifacio as its 2008 Winter Player of the Year—an award encompassing the three Caribbean winter leagues (Dominican, Venezuelan and Mexican)—after he batted .300 and posted a .359 on-base percentage with Licey of the Dominican Winter League.
“This trade brings us a quality, young player, who has the potential to develop into a solid leadoff hitter and outstanding defensive second baseman,” Bowden said. “He is a high-energy player with a lot of potential, and we anticipate he’ll fit nicely into our long-term plan of drafting, acquiring and developing a solid nucleus that will lead our club in the near future.”
In Washington, Bonifacio joins third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, outfielder Elijah Dukes, outfielder Lastings Milledge, and catcher Jesus Flores as building-block position players who began this season 23 years-old or younger. Bonifacio, Dukes and Milledge were all aquired via trades within the last year.
Widely recognized as one of the fastest runners in professional baseball, Bonifacio is viewed as having all of the tools necessary to hit leadoff in the big leagues. Last season, playing for Double-A Mobile, Bonifacio led the Southern League in stolen bases (41) and hits (157), while ranking second in runs scored (84). For his career, Bonifacio owns a stout stolen base percentage of 78.1 percent (280 of 357).
Bonifacio batted .302 (111-for-367) with 18 doubles, five triples, one home run, 29 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 85 games with Tucson of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League before being recalled by the Diamondbacks in early July. He was a Pacific Coast League All-Star selction, marking his fourth consecutive All-Star season.
Originally signed by Arizona as a non-drafted free agent on December 21, 2001, Bonifacio is a career .284 (788-for-2770) hitter with 107 doubles, 36 triples, 13 home runs, 231 RBI and 280 stolen bases in seven minor-league seasons in the Diamondbacks’ system.
Considered well-above average defensively, Bonifacio’s sure-handedness and range are reminiscent of Orlando Hudson, the Diamondbacks’ current second baseman. Baseball America named Bonifacio as the best defensive infielder in Arizona’s chain entering this season.
The 29 year-old Rauch was 4-2 with 17 saves (22 save opportunities) and a 2.98 ERA (16 ER/48.1 IP) in 48 appearances with Washington at the time of the trade.
We’re going to think about this some more. We imagined we’d get a few more prospects for Rauch, since prospects are so unknown and Rauch has been a quality closer.
Entries (RSS)
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Bonifacio is legit. this is great news that the Nats were able to score someone of his skills for Rauch. let’s be honest, Rauch is a career set-up guy that was thrust into the closer’s role. He’s be a set-up guy in Arizona. closer’s fall off trees. guys that both get on base, then have the speed and skill to wreck havoc on the base paths are a great commodity.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
More questions than answers at this point. Thanks for the insight on Bonifacio. There is no doubt that we’re in need of a speedy lead off guy. I still need some time to evaluate all of this. On Guzman, as you mentioned, we need numbers before we can pass judgement.
So how does the bullpen shape up now? I’m guessing that they let Hanrahan try out the closer role first.
So much news in such a short period of time!
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
i agree, Hanrahan is best suited for the job. hard to say how Manny goes though, if he bypasses two veterans. ultimately, it doesn’t really matter tfor this year (obviously). but if they have the idea of Hanrahan competing for it next year, they might as well give him a shot with what’s left of this year.
but again, LOVE the trade. Bonifacio is exactly the type of player the Nats needed to pick up. allows Guzman to hit in a more appropriate spot. AND allwos teh team to end it’s relationship with Felipe “Bad Attitude” Lopez.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Bonifacio’s plate discipline seems to be lacking a bit. ‘06 was his best OBP at .375, and even then his walk to strikeout ratio was 44:104.
Count me as another person who would like to see Hanrahan close, and after Friday in Atlanta, it seems likely.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
his OBP last year in the minors was propped up a bit by his hit rate, but he OBP’d .359 in the Dominican last winter too, where he was named player of the year.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Yeah, I kind of have my doubts he’ll ever be a huge OBP guy in the big leagues unless he hits really well.
If anyone is interested, John Sickels had him rated as a C+ prospect before the season started.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I love this trade too. Bye bye tallest man to ever play the game! Also THE rudest player to ever play the game. Bonifacio is very fast (the fastest man in Arizona in 2007) - not sure if anyone is faster than him this year or not. If we had Bonifacio and Milledge at the top of the order we could potentially give the opposing pitchers whiplash! ha ha ha ha.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Ladson says Hanrahan will get the opportunity.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:10 am
Getting just one decent prospect for a guy pitching like Rauch was seems bogus to me. The dude’s value should have been seen as a closer since he’s excelled at the job this year, even if the D-Backs are going to use him as setup. One speedy middle infielder with zero pop and a career .338 obp in the minors just doesn’t seem enough in my eyes. If they’d gotten him and, say, some project type that was good on power and eye, but needed work, you could at least come away with it as being a real deal.
As is, you have to hope he really is a leadoff man instead of a #8 hitter, which he is at this point due to his K/BB ratio. Steals be damned.