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Royals Place Emilio Bonifacio On Release Waivers

By charliewilmoth | February 10, 2014 at 1:09pm CDT

FEB. 10: The Royals have requested unconditional release waivers on Bonifacio, tweets Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish. Any team can now claim Bonifacio if they are willing to take on the entirety of his $3.5MM salary. Those claims will be determined according to last year's league-wide standings and are not subject to the in-season rule that would give AL teams the first shot at him (2013 league-wide standings are also used for the first month of the regular season, as opposed to league-specific priority). Should he clear waivers, he will be a free agent and can then sign with a team of his choosing.

FEB. 1: The Royals have designated infielder Emilio Bonifacio for assignment, according to a team release. The move clears space on the Royals' roster for Bruce Chen. Bonifacio, who will be 29 in April, hit .243/.295/.331 in 461 plate appearances divided between the Royals and Blue Jays in 2013.

In mid-January, the Royals agreed to a one-year, $3.5MM deal with him to avoid arbitration, so it comes as a surprise that they would designate him for assignment two weeks later. Chen's $3MM salary essentially replaces Bonifacio's $3.5MM, and arbitration contracts are not guaranteed, so the decision to designate Bonifacio may have been a matter of making room for Chen in the Royals' budget. The Royals could well trade Bonifacio in the next ten days. Pedro Ciriaco could pick up playing time as a utility infielder in Bonifacio's place.

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43 Comments

  1. Chad Johnson

    11 years ago

    That was stupid to DFA Bonifacio, he can hit ok, steal you 30+ bases and play passably all over the field.

    Reply
  2. augustoperez

    11 years ago

    Having seen Bonifacio play, I think this is a boneheaded play. We have other players who are less reliable than him. The recent acquisitions at KC have made CF the weakest position offensively. Dyson and Cain are almost interchangeable with frailty being the major difference. If it were up to me, either of those would be traded as Bonifacio can sub in more positions and provide roster flexibility.

    Reply
  3. augustoperez

    11 years ago

    Having seen Bonifacio play, I think this is a boneheaded play. We have other players who are less reliable than him. The recent acquisitions at KC have made CF the weakest position offensively. Dyson and Cain are almost interchangeable with frailty being the major difference. If it were up to me, either of those would be traded as Bonifacio can sub in more positions and provide roster flexibility.

    Reply
  4. mrnatewalter

    11 years ago

    I wouldn’t mind SanFran jumping at this one. Good support for Scutaro, can play in the outfield (both need depth)… and a $3.5 mil, he’s a great back up… but I can’t see Sabean going for this.

    Reply
  5. Senior Editor

    11 years ago

    If he clears waivers, I see the Dodgers trying to sign him.

    Reply
  6. Senior Editor

    11 years ago

    If he clears waivers, I see the Dodgers trying to sign him.

    Reply
  7. Roy-Z

    11 years ago

    Probably not. what value does Nunez have? Boni can at least steal a decent pile of bases. He just needs to get to first base.

    Reply
  8. daveineg

    11 years ago

    $3.5 million is a lot for a back up but he’d help a lot of teams in a super utility role. Somebody is going to claim him. I could actually see the Cubs doing it with idea of trading him at the deadline. He’s better than either Valbuena or Barney and could start for them.

    Reply
  9. BYOP

    11 years ago

    When did the $$$$’s ever matter to the Yankees. He’d be a good guy for most teams.

    Reply
  10. BYOP

    11 years ago

    Can the Royals afford that?

    Reply
  11. dgimbel

    11 years ago

    Makes too much sense for the Yankees not to sign him and his small 3.5 mil

    Reply
    • rct 2

      11 years ago

      I could see this, but also bear in mind that Bonifacio isn’t very good.

      Reply
  12. IseeyouHanley

    11 years ago

    I really hope the Dodgers can get Bonifacio.

    Reply
    • Seamaholic

      11 years ago

      Only if they’re going to start him. He has a history of becoming difficult in a bench role.

      Reply
  13. ctiger14

    11 years ago

    I’m sure the Orioles will be along to make an offer soon. Another scrap pile reclamation project for DD.

    Reply
  14. GameMusic3

    11 years ago

    The Dodgers MUST get him and should have got a trade while he was under Royals control.

    Reply
  15. bravesnjays

    11 years ago

    Depends, he apparently wants a starting roll. The Braves could give him a super-utility quasi-starting role. He could give the entire infield minus Freeman an off day once a week and play left field once a week or so too, now that the Gattis/McCann situation has resolved itself. However, a lot of teams with deeper pockets could offer something similar. Honestly, if Uggla and BJ don’t come out of the gates strong, I would be perfectly ok with Bonafacio starting at 2b or left field (and obviously shifting Justin and Heyward). But at the end of the day I don’t see Bonafacio signing with the Braves (but I wish I could).
    Edit: Although, didn’t Fredi stick up for Boni in FLA back in the day? If there is a good relationship there that ought to help.

    Reply
  16. 123redsox

    11 years ago

    chances say jamey Carroll doesnt make the opening day roster as the Winner of Espinosa and Rendon with start and the other be the utility infielder. There is currently no spot on the 25 man roster for Bonifacio in Washington. And a team that signs him would have to pay that 3.5 million this year so they wouldnt sign him as a depth option.

    Reply
  17. 123redsox

    11 years ago

    Bonifacio is being placed on unconditional release waivers meaning that he with go through waivers and if he is not selected by a team he will automatically be released and become a free agent

    Reply
  18. daveineg

    11 years ago

    Easy Dodger fans. I think your team will be okay if they don’t get Bonafacio. Last time I checked their rotation still looked pretty good.

    Reply
    • mrnatewalter

      11 years ago

      It might not be a bad call for LAD… They seem to be second-guessing themselves on Guerrero’s ability to play second, and they lack depth in guys who can play 2nd… Boni might not be a bad pick-up as an insurance policy for Kemp/Crawford/Hanley/Uribe/Guerrero.

      Reply
      • GameMusic3

        11 years ago

        Right he can back up our 5 most volatile positions and has a chance to provide positive value.

        Reply
        • mrnatewalter

          11 years ago

          I’m struggling to detect if that was sarcasm or not… because that was really the only acceptable response to my post.

          Reply
          • GameMusic3

            11 years ago

            No sarcasm.

            Reply
  19. Fleer Carll

    11 years ago

    I was joking.

    Reply
  20. Catztradamus

    11 years ago

    No way he gets that far

    Reply
  21. Catztradamus

    11 years ago

    If no one signs him they have to pay him. He can be a free agent. He won’t go to AAA

    Reply
  22. Catztradamus

    11 years ago

    If no one signs him they have to pay him. He can be a free agent. He won’t go to AAA

    Reply
  23. amoreperfectunion

    11 years ago

    If he becomes a free agent, KC is still on the hook for the $3.5m, correct? Signing him for league minimum would not be a bad deal for most teams.

    Reply
    • Catztradamus

      11 years ago

      Correct

      Reply
    • Jack 21

      11 years ago

      No, it’s a non guaranteed contract

      Reply
      • amoreperfectunion

        11 years ago

        Then it’s a good deal for everyone! Except Bonifacio.

        Reply
  24. Catztradamus

    11 years ago

    No, the royals hVe to pay him. The other team picks up the minimum

    Reply
    • ItsThatBriGuy

      11 years ago

      Only now that release waivers have been requested on him. Had he been sent to the minors at the end of his DFA limbo period, he would have had to walk away from his contract to become a free agent by refusing his assignment.

      Reply
      • Dave Beal

        11 years ago

        his contract was via arbitration, so it is not a guaranteed contract and the Royals will owe him nothing. Essentially here we opted to keep Danny Valencia over Bonafacio. Alicedes Escobar and Omar Infante are both players that play every day, so you don’t really need that guy that can cover SS and 2B. Valencia offers a platoon alternative and RH hitting alternative to Moustakas and Hosmer. If a middle IF gets dinged you call up somebody. By doing it this way, it allows KC to keep Justin Maxwell and Jarrod Dyson both as backup OF’s, PH and pinch runners. It also allows you to start the season with a 12 man picthing staff until pitchers get their pitch counts up. That’s key, because it lets us keep Holland. Hochevar, Crow, Collins, Davis, Chen and either Herrera or Coleman. I think Coleman is out of options and we don’t want to lose him. Herrera can start in AAA.

        Reply
        • ItsThatBriGuy

          11 years ago

          “his contract was via arbitration, so it is not a guaranteed contract and the Royals will owe him nothing”

          It’s not =fully= guaranteed, but he’ll still be owed thirty days’ pay for being released before Spring Training.

          Reply
  25. formerdraftpick 2

    11 years ago

    Could Bonifacio be a solution for the Mets at short or the Yankees at infield?

    Reply
  26. sparkysway

    11 years ago

    A nice backup for the rookie at 3rd in Detroit!

    Reply
  27. The Oregonian

    11 years ago

    Giants are in desperate need of some infield depth, and the Yankees are too. Plenty of options for him, really.

    Reply
  28. Metsfan27

    11 years ago

    Sandy bring him in! I’d much rather have Emilio at short than Tejada. Use Bonifacio as a backup plan just in case we miss out on Drew.

    Reply
  29. Kansas_City

    11 years ago

    Wow. A lot of commenters here like him at $3.5 million. But since the Royals were unable to make a trade (which would have taken virtually nothing), I would be surprised if any team picks up his contract. If I am correct, then it will be interesting to see what he gets in the free agent bidding. The auction atmospher could get him back to $3.5 million or, in theory, higher.

    Reply
  30. DMiles5149

    11 years ago

    No reason not to grab him Yanks.

    Reply
    • Kansas_City

      11 years ago

      Unless a team envisions him getting 400 to 500 at bats, seems like a very high price.

      Reply

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