Emilio Bonifacio traded for relief arm Jon Rauch

by Red Reign on Jul 22, 2008 5:30 PM EDT

The D'backs just traded Bonifacio to the Nats for P Jon Rauch. I just got the text from KTAR.

Rauch, who took over as the Nats closer when Chad Cordero injured his shoulder in April, was 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA. The 29-year-old covered 17 of his 22 save opportunities. Rauch, who made $1.2 million this year, is set to make $2 million next season and there is a club option for 2010 at $2.9 million.

[Tidied up and promoted to the front page. Here are my thoughts on the deal. Jim]

This looks to me like we just got Qualls v2.0. Before you cringe, let me point out that by this, I mean Rauch is a decent quality [ERA+ of 127, 117 and 144 over the past three years] reliever, who throws a lot of innings and will be under our control for a relatively-long term.

In fact, he has the most innings in the majors of any "pure" reliever [90% or more of appearances in relief] since the start of 2006, and gives Arizona two of the top five:

Jon Rauch: 227
Aaron Heilman: 225.1
Scott Proctor: 220.1
Chad Qualls: 216.1
Saul Rivera: 210

The trade also means Randy Johnson is no longer the tallest player on the roster: if you remember the recent Washington series, you'll likely recall Rauch, who is listed at 6'11" and 291 lbs...

Losing Bonifacio does remove one of the major possibilities as far as replacing Hudson goes. If we don't re-sign the O-Dawg, we are going to have either to trade for someone or make a major shift in position for someone currently occupying another spot. But, for the moment, it certainly strengthens our pen, at the cost of someone who was only a fringe player on the current roster.

Poll

Who should close for us?

0 recs | Comment 110 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Sad to see Bonifacio go,

but happy we’re getting a pretty decent and cheap reliever in return.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 5:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Rauch

So does Rauch close or setup? What will the pecking order be?
vr, Xeifrank

by Xeifrank on Jul 22, 2008 5:47 PM EDT 0 recs

My vote

Is for him closing. Lyon is so much more valuable as a set-up guy. In reality, it probably doesn’t matter which does which.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

and if you think about it

we’ve already replaced Lyon for next year now

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 22, 2008 5:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Lyon is so much more valuable as a set-up guy

How do you work that out? He’ll be a free agent after the year: Saves are one of the categories Elias use to decide what compensation we get when he signs elsewhere. I say, keep him the closer and get two nice draft picks as a result.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 22, 2008 6:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Saves

Saves aren’t the only way to Type A. Jon Rauch, in fact, was a type A last year. He had 6 career saves to that point.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 6:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not the only way

But if you punt saves, you’d better be lights out in all the other categories. Rauch had an ERA of 3.60 and a WHIP of 1.10 in 2007 – that’s a good bit better than Lyon’s figures this season of 3.86 and 1.29, and without the saves, Lyon was only a Type B last year.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 22, 2008 6:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not claiming to be an expert on the Elias scale

But wouldn’t Lyon’s horrid 2005 have lowered his chance at a good rating last year? Scott Linebrink was also a Type A last year and his 2005-2007 seasons aren’t a significant leap beyond Lyon’s 2006-current.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 6:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well

I take that back… Linebrink’s 2005 was insane.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 6:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Chad Qualls

Also type A, compares a little better.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 6:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

I believe

It’s only two seasons of data that’s used – so the end of 2007 rankings would be based on data from 2006 and 2007, excluding 2005. So, at the end of this year, Lyon will lose his 2006 stats, and gain the 2008 ones – so far, they’re almost the same, so I think he needs the boost from saves to become a Type A.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 22, 2008 6:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah

AFAIK, it’s only 2 seasons.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree.

In fact, I sorta assumed that this was the idea all along….

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Beautiful

Just as I start to lose more faith in Byrnes, he pulls this off.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 5:47 PM EDT 0 recs

was hoping we'd be able to pull off a bit more for

Bonifacio, but still satisfied with the bullpen help

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 22, 2008 5:47 PM EDT 0 recs

More?

We got a closer for a utility guy. That’s a steal for us. What did we get for Green Valley?

by AZSEAfan on Jul 24, 2008 12:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

well everyone seemed to really overvalue Bonifacio

but that was my knee jerk reaction. I’m really really happy with this trade now

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 24, 2008 11:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

I will say

Bonifacio really fits the mold of the Nationals organization.

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 22, 2008 5:52 PM EDT 0 recs

Below-average?

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 5:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

well, yes

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 22, 2008 5:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's strange to think that

this might be the thing to set us up to succeed again. The offense has slowly started to rouse from it’s slumber and if only the bullpen could hold a lead we’d be in damn good shape. thoughts?

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 22, 2008 5:56 PM EDT 0 recs

Maybe not as optimistic

But I don’t think it’ll hurt. Having Rauch for next season is key to the value of the deal.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 5:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Plus 2010.

Club option.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Even better

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 6:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah..... I'll miss Bonifacio,

but the more I think about it, the more I really like this trade.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

This was a relief

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 22, 2008 6:19 PM EDT 0 recs

::rimshot::

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

As long as we sign Hudson, I'm ok.

If not, not ok.

The team that continues to disappoint, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Jul 22, 2008 6:39 PM EDT 0 recs

Hudson isn't the only 2B on the planet

There are going to be others. Mark Ellis, for one.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 6:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm really worried

that somebody else offers Ellis a big contract that we can’t match. But I would DEFINITELY support us going after him.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

He'll be a pretty popular FA

especially with Oakland’s recent trades making it pretty unlikely he’ll be re-signed there. And we do have another advantage… quite a few former A’s on our team.

by snakecharmer on Jul 22, 2008 6:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dan Haren, Conor Robertson, and....?

Looks like Ellis’ BA isn’t nearly as good as O-Dawg’s, though.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Byrnes.

Any more?

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Couple things

Ellis’ hitting is hurt by his home park. He’s got a .867 road OPS this year vs a .552 home OPS. Road OPS was higher last year too.
Ellis’ glove is way better than Hudson’s at this point.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 6:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

True.

I forgot he plays in a football stadium.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah, cause Ellis is consistently good right?

I want someone who I know is going to be good.

The team that continues to disappoint, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Jul 22, 2008 10:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

O-Dawg is consistently declining.

Have you looked at Ellis’ numbers?

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

the past shows

that once a second baseman hits the age 32 his numbers fall off the charts. I struggled to believe it at first but I checked in and it’s true nearly every “quality” 2nd baseman you can think of falls apart. Greats become average, average go away.

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 22, 2008 11:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Sometimes you have to suck it up,

because good, under-30, free agent second basemen are about as commonplace as Falun Gong temples in Beijing.

Ellis has an .867 road OPS this season, .806 last season and has a legitimate claim to being the best defensive second baseman in the league. I’d rather the team sign great and have it eventually decline to average for them to simply go with average (or below-average as Boni would have been).

by dahlian on Jul 23, 2008 2:19 AM EDT up 0 recs

Can you link to these numbers?

And are you saying with the bat or with the glove? I can think of 3 2nd basemen in recent history (Kent, Biggio, Bret Boone) that played on through 32 and had at least 2 or 3 (or 10) really good years after it.

Roberto Alomar had one of the best statistical seasons of his career at age 33. Mark DeRosa is 33 and continues to get better. Jerry Hairston Jr. is having a career year at age 32. Jay Bell had career years at age 32 and 33 and was still decent at age 34. Mark Grudzielanek is 38 and has just now started to show reduced range, but continues to produce at a decent rate with the bat.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 23, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

mainly with the glove

but the bat does tend to fall off a bit too. I just went through and looked at individual player stats here or there.

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 23, 2008 1:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Here are articles of interest

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/fielding-aging-curves/
http://camdendepot.blogspot.com/2008/06/age-curves-for-2b-fielding.html

The former is talking about shortstops, but I imagine the conclusion would be very similar for second base. The latter concludes, “Ages 27 to 29 are when fielding ability is greatest for second basemen as their efficiency rises and their range has not been greatly compromised.” I imagine offensively, aging curves for second basemen would be generally the same as overall, around 29, with worse players tending to peak earlier, while better players peak later. Either way, Hudson would seem past his best and not a good candidate for a long-term contract.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 23, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Mostly correct

There have been some really nice seasons from older 2B men but I feel that you cannot count Bret Boone among them. He was my favorite player for a few years but his stats were heavily tainted.

by AZSEAfan on Jul 24, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

Can you count on the team to throw money at someone?

Emilio was the backup plan, but now since we don’t have him they will have to get a 2nd baseman, meaning left field will still be in doubt next year.

The team that continues to disappoint, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Jul 23, 2008 9:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Second base

has no bearing on the left field situation. In Jackson, Tracy and Byrnes the team already has the talent on board to have a productive 1B/LF platoon. It’s an issue of apportioning the playing time, not opening up the checkbook.

by dahlian on Jul 24, 2008 1:12 AM EDT up 0 recs

Im happy with the deal

especially within the context of our current injury woes :thup:

So...time for another drink then?

by Wimb on Jul 22, 2008 6:48 PM EDT 0 recs

Thanks...

...for tiding it up and promoting it. I rushed the fanpost since I popped my cherry with the newsbreak. Sorry, I’m tearing up here. Big day for me.

by Red Reign on Jul 22, 2008 6:51 PM EDT 0 recs

My pleasure

You got there ahead of me, and I’d just about written my own fanpost before I’d noticed yours! So, made sense to combine them: appreciate your being on the ball!

Also added a poll to the post, just for fun…

by Jim McLennan on Jul 22, 2008 6:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh and I took this from the Nats blog...

Bottom Line: I LOVE this deal. Bonafacio is legit. .302/.338/.360 in six minor league seasons. 229 total stolen bases with a 78% success rate. He plays a gold-glove caliber second base. And he’s only 23. He immediately becomes the Nats best hitting prospect not onthe major league roster. Getting this kind of return for a run-of-the-mill set-up guy in Rauch is a coup.
Granted, Rauch pitched admirably this season in the closer’s role, but closing is all about opportunity, and he’s still the same guy that would have been settingup Cordero had Cordero not been injured. In fact, it’s the same kind of deal Bowden SHOULD have made for Cordero last season!

Ummm, who wants to break the bad news to them? ;)

So...time for another drink then?

by Wimb on Jul 22, 2008 6:53 PM EDT 0 recs

He plays a gold-glove caliber second base.

Someone link me to that scouting report. The few games I saw of him at 2nd he looked average at best.

Fire Bob Melvin

by nihil67 on Jul 22, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh, I’d just let them work it out on their own…

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."

by kishi on Jul 22, 2008 7:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

tehehe

it’s like someone hid the TV remote and we’re sitting there watching them look for it while we know where it’s hidden

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 22, 2008 7:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well, I'm a bit nervous,

simply because as one of the posters at FederalBaseball noted, Mike Rizzo KNOWS our farm system well…. I’m wondering whether he sees something that nobody else does?

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 7:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

wasn't

boner face a minor league free agent signee before last season? i’m not sure rizzo is the guy that brought him into the system.

by leemellon on Jul 22, 2008 7:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

No.

He was signed by us out of the Dominican in 2001, IIRC.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 7:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

(When he was 16)

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 7:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

ah

i know he’s played a few minor league seasons, but thought byrnes brought him in.

by leemellon on Jul 22, 2008 7:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Another issue

Assuming we send down one of the Tucson bullpen to make way for Rauch, we will have to promote someone to take Bonifacio’s place. D’Antona, maybe? Or do we go with an extra man in the pen for a bit?

by Jim McLennan on Jul 22, 2008 6:53 PM EDT 0 recs

Short Term go with 1 less bat

The bullpen is shot to bits right now so we need the help.

Sadly this seems to mean that Burke will be sticking around for a fair while unless he gets traded or we add another bat, I’d like to give D’Antona a shot :)

So...time for another drink then?

by Wimb on Jul 22, 2008 6:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

Trade Burke

for Alex Rodriguez.

Or Matt Holliday.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 6:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

+1

by DiamondbacksWIn on Jul 22, 2008 7:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

I really don't think

anyone will take Burke from us. We will have to send him as part of a package deal

by DiamondbacksWIn on Jul 22, 2008 7:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

How about we include him as part of a package holiday to Butlins?

Actually no, people still wouldn’t take us up on that offer :(

So...time for another drink then?

by Wimb on Jul 22, 2008 7:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

well if we ever take on a big contract

instead of the other team sending cash we can just send them Burke

formerly Seton Hall Snake Pit. The newer simpler version.

by AJforAZ on Jul 22, 2008 11:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

Good thinking!

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 23, 2008 1:22 AM EDT up 0 recs

Reports

Are that it’s D’Antona getting the call.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 22, 2008 7:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Good to hear it...

and so is Ben, I’m sure.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 7:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

You know

I was just thinking last night, “Our bats are waking up a little. I still think we need one more bat. Our starters have been lights out lately except for Owings. What has really failed us is our bullpen. How many games have they lost for us this year?”

I am overall happy to get another good arm in the pen. If we get on OF bat I think we will still beat out the Dodgers and be a threat in the Post season.

by DiamondbacksWIn on Jul 22, 2008 7:15 PM EDT 0 recs

"The Diamondbacks trade Emilio Bonifacio"

Great trade! Who’d we get?

by dahlian on Jul 22, 2008 7:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Half a bucket of sunflower seeds and the other team agreed to take Chris Burke.

Actually, some people would probably be in favor of that….

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."

by kishi on Jul 22, 2008 7:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

But

they have to promise to bat Burke leadoff.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 7:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh, man

That’d be funny enough that I’d be willing to be negotiated down to an empty bucket.

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."

by kishi on Jul 22, 2008 7:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Plus

everytime he’s at bat, they have to play circus clown music.

Also—an empty bucket? You whore! At LEAST ask for some shells or something….

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 22, 2008 7:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

Mop Squeezings

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Jul 22, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

Anytime

you have the chance to get a 6’11, one biscut away from 300 lbs., gold medal winner, with a neck tatoo. Well…..that’s just a move you have to make and its as simple as that.

Looking forward to the Raunch era and I like the move.

by Augie's Army on Jul 22, 2008 7:37 PM EDT 0 recs