TODAY, 12:04am: Also in on Bonifacio as of this morning were the Pirates, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
11:13am: There is plenty of action on Bonifacio, who is being pursued currently by the Orioles, Giants, and Mariners, tweets Jayson Stark of ESPN.com.
Bonifacio is a backup option for the Mariners, along with Chris Denorfia, tweets Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune. Seattle prefers to add Alex Rios or Ben Zobrist.
YESTERDAY, 8:12pm: It does not appear that the Giants are going to acquire Bonifacio, according to a tweet from Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
6:42pm: The Royals are not yet close to adding Bonifacio, tweets Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star.
5:48pm: The O’s are not in on Bonifacio, tweets Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, who hears that the versatile fielder could be returning to Kansas City. Needless to say, that would be an interesting turn of events: Bonifacio finished well last year with Kansas City, was tendered a contract, agreed to a salary to avoid arbitration, and was then released before the start of the season.
5:14pm: At present, the Giants, Orioles, and Reds are all in play for Bonifacio, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
4:50pm: Bonifacio has been told to be prepared for a deal today, tweets Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
4:42pm: Bonifacio is indeed not in the lineup, with manager Rick Renteria saying it was “prudent” to hold him out, according to Rogers (Twitter link).
2:50pm: The Cubs are getting close to trading Bonifacio, tweets Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago. Levine tweets that Bonifacio is not in tonight’s lineup, which could obviously signal that a deal is nigh. Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the Giants have been scouting Bonifacio all week, but the asking price for the impending free agent is said to be high.
2:32pm: The Orioles are Giants are considering Cubs utility man Emilio Bonifacio as a trade option, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney. Bruce Levine of 670 The Score adds the Royals, Mariners, and Reds as three more potential suitors (All Twitter links).
Bonifacio, 29, is hitting .279/.318/.373 in 298 plate appearances for the Cubs. The switch-hitter is raking against lefties in this year’s limited sample. He’s mainly played center field and second base for the Cubs. Bonifacio is eligible for free agency after the season.
This guy would be a perfect fit for the A’s, being able to play both the outfield with Gentry and Crisp out and second base where we have major issues. Wanna take Hammel back?
I never expected Hammel to be as good as he was in Chicago, but ouch. I just looked at his numbers with Oakland and that’s got to sting. Sorry about that, I actually like the A’s! :/
Hammel is a typical Cub starter. Overperforms, then stinks. Only needed to look at Garza, Dempster, Maholm and Feldman to know that. Yet the A’s were fooled just like them.
I’m not sure fooled is right. I think they were expecting to get a mid-to-back rotation guy, which Hammel has been most of his career. They were “fooled” in the sense that he has been more horrible than I think anybody expected, but not because they thought he was going to keep pitching to a sub-3 ERA.
True. Also, this is only three bad starts. Consider that a rapid regression to the mean for his overall stats. He will probably settle down as the good #4 he was expected to be before long.
Hammel is a notorious fast starter, IIRC. I don’t think he’s going anywhere but down for the A’s.
Don’t worry his FIP shows that he has pitched better than his stats show.
I hope you’re wrong and the A’s get someone that will make an impact.
I think the A’s are going to the show though, what a team they have!
C Mon Doug Melvin. What are you doing? Stop sitting on your hands.
Doug Melvin was a catcher in Montreal?
What happen to your “”C” prospects for the Cubs?
Huh?
the guys hits LHP really well, has speed and can play some D, worth 2.7 WAR over the last calendar year another smart signing by the cubs
Multiple sources are saying the asking price on Bonifacio is high.
Maybe the Cubs feel the lack of hitters on the market makes a leadoff hitting OF/2B more valuable than he might be otherwise? Or maybe they feel no pressure to trade him and are pricing accordingly.
The guy has hit terribly since April and is having one hot week. He doesn’t have a solid career. I can’t imagine him really having high value.
The guy has hit terribly since April and is having one hot week. He doesn’t have a solid career. I can’t imagine him really having high value.
I’m not personally arguing that he *should* have high trade value. I’m only speculating about why the Cubs seem to think he does.
He does have hits in six of seven games since coming off the DL. So that’s something, I guess.
You’d make a great gm. “Boni is available, hes not that good so we dont want much for him”
When did I say that?
Theo is trying to sell Boni. He should he think highly of all of his players, ecspecially the one he is trying to sell
whether he believes it or not, its called being a salesmen
I won’t lie, that’s weird. I like Boni, especially in the stretch run for a contender. But he’s just not worth that much.
Good on the Cubs if they can get somebody to overpay though.
Bonifacio has hit .246 since April, with an OPS of .633
If you take out his hot week here, his OPS was .543 in May and June.
Hey, I can do this too. Take out one bad week in May/June and he has a:
.297 BA, .340 OBP, and OPS of .737!
Man, it’s nice to just take a week out of a players numbers anytime you want, right?
Cherry-picking at its finest! Ha, nice job!
I really want the Dodgers to go after this guy. He’d be a much better option off the bench than who we’re planning on going forward with now (see: Chone Figgins)
Oh the Dodgers may just do that to keep him from SF… Unfortunately we were clamoring for this to happen last offseason, and there is nowhere to put him in LA now.
Well he’d definitely be a bench guy. And Colletti LOVES these kind of flex guys. He could definitely fit, just depends on the price
Look for Chone to be DFA’d (or optioned, as I believe he has a split contract) after his rehab expires; Darwin Barney is the Utilityman of the Month now.
And that’s only until Arruebarruena comes off the DL, then depending on how close to roster expansions we are, we’ll probably DFA Barney lol
Arruebarruena (copied and pasted, tyvm) has been demoted to RanchoC (A Ball) on an internal disciplinary move versus DL (not sure of his suspension status as he is in today’s lineup). Barney’s deal is very team friendly—Cubs sent money to Dodgers believe it or not!
Oh that’s right. The brawl lol
Oh that’s right. The brawl lol
Well nevermind all of that, Barney optioned to Albuquerque…
The Orioles are Giants? Orange and Black will do that for some people…
I feel like he could fit well on the Pirates. They really need to redo their bench. Harrison is the only acceptable one on it.
To nab one of these SF pitching prospects would be an awesome get for the Cubs for Bonifacio…..Mejia, Mella, of Blach would be fantastic…prolly not likely
how much could the cubs possibly get Emilio bonafacio isn’t that good at all
He’d be a huge upgrade for the Giants. I imagine Sabean would part with a decent pitching prospect for him.
not for Bonafacio I have watched this guy he is nowhere near as good as his numbers suggest
All he has to be is better than Dan Uggla.
Well, he has to be better than other 2B available for the same price.
Definitely better than Uggla. Great avatar. Bay area folks know that one well.
Please be the A’s!
Nice one Dayton Moore. Lets release a guy we had in the off season then try pick him up half way through the next season.
What is a high return for a soon to be free agent Bonifacio? A C/C+ prospect?
Supply and demand tells me it could be much better than that.
The supply of utility players that have had only one good month and 2 terrible months is that low? Bonifacio was hitting worse than Darwin Barney for 2 months.
Hey, you know what I’d love to hear? Your ruminations on Bonifacio’s production in relation to that of another Cubs middle infielder . . . say, Darwin Barney. Any thoughts?
Cubs just got a pretty good “A” pitcher from the Dodgers for Darwin Barney.
Who?
Jonathan Martinez from Class A system
Not in Dodgers top 30. So, non-prospect.
Unless I read it wrong, he was recently the Dodgers number 12 prospect.
I like Bonifocio as a super utility guy. Can play OF, middle IF adequately… has solid speed.
I just don’t see how a guy who should bench player could justify a ‘high’ return
Hopefully he’s headed to Atlanta.
The real question is… who would the Cubs replace his roster spot with? Has to be Baez right?
Logan Watkins……Baez not on 40 man roster.
True, but moving Bonifacio opens a spot on 40 for Baez
With Doubront coming on board, Fujikawa will need that spot when he gets off the DL. That said, dumping Brett Jackson or Josh Vitters is possible. Still, I think it will be Watkins.
If Cubs had control beyond this season I wouldn’t mind if they kept Bonafacio for another year but if TheoJed can pick up another decent piece for the rebuild by flipping yet another player noone wanted in the offseason, hell yeah.
I like Bonifacio, but if the Royals trade for him after letting him go for nothing in the offseason, I won’t be happy. Besides, how does he improve our outfield situation? I don’t think he makes us any better than Jarrod Dyson.
A’s wouldnt surprise me at all. They need offense from 2B and help in the OF, Boni would fit both and will come pretty cheaply.
Also, he has great versatility which they seem to appreciate in Oakland. Maybe roll him into the Cubs PTBNL, and get a decent arm back…?
Wherever he goes, best of luck, Emilio.
He’s a nice ballplayer and depending on what happens between now and spring training ’15, I hope they consider bringing him back.
Switch hitter that can play every position on the field (aside from pitcher and catcher), who wouldnt want this guy on their roster?
If the Yankees were smart, they’d go after Bonifacio. He’s exactly what they need.
But does the Yankees have anything Theo wants?
Zach Nuding or a Matt Tracy, I mean who would think the Cubs would get a Corey Black for Soriano. Plenty of nice options in Yankee’s system.
Theo and Jed making moves! I love it. I like Bonifacio but if we can get someone to overpay it would be golden.
Nobody’s gonna overpay. C prospect.
Boni isn’t someone you give away for a c prospect. I don’t think they are going to get a super highly rated prospect but they aren’t going to give him away. He is very valuable and can play a good amount of positions. You act like he has no value
He’s a rental though. A position player rental with an OPS+ of 90, so considerably below average. For two months of at most a part-time starter who makes real money, you don’t get a good prospect.
I think part of the issue is that terms like “C prospect” are so open to interpretation. My expectation is that the Cubs will get somebody roughly on the level of what they got for Darwin Barney: A lottery ticket having a nice year, but who isn’t highly regarded.
Yes. I’d call that “C”. “B” is a highly regarded guy who’s maybe the bottom quarter of the top 100 or a little lower than that. “A” is elite. Everything else is a non-prospect. Guess people define it differently.
Best part about this trade is that with both him and Barney gone, maybe Baez comes up?
That is an extremely fair point.
I am only pointing out that Bonifacio has played like Darwin Barney for a majority of this year and is riding a 10 game period in which every single bloop landed, he had multiple infield singles, and weak little ten hoppers that found a hole.
Nothing to pretend like a good prospect is worth.
No, he wont bring back much. Maybe an arm a little better than Barney- something similar to add to the stockpile.
But his offense has certainly been better than Barney’s. At least Bonifacio had hot and cold streaks. Barney was just a block of ice since 2012…
Haha. Believe it or not Barney was red hot when he went on paternity leave.
But he had to go. His defense wasn’t as amazing as before either.
Nobody is better than Theo and Jed at taking a nickel and turning it into a dime. How will next year go? 6th straight year in the cellar? Another 2-3 pitchers traded? How about that top 5 pick? Can hardly wait.
Get him outta here, Jed/Theo! Javier Baez time.
I like Bonifacio… he’d be a nice RHB bench/platoon MI/OF option for any team. Speed, Defense (except CF), & Versatility what’s not to love?
So anyways, I was standing there waiting to use the pay phone. And this guy who was on the phone, turns around and tips his hat like this….. I was like “Emiliooooo”
So everyone close to acquiring Bonifacio are not close.
Royals DFA Bonafacio this spring…when they actually needed him. Now they are trying to give up something to get him back? Would have made more sense to have DFA’d Dyson
Royals DFA Bonafacio this spring…when they actually needed him. Now they are trying to give up something to get him back? Would have made more sense to have DFA’d Dyson
I honestly would not mind him on the Reds. I know they are fading right now but this would be a nice pickup for us even when phillips and votto get back…. hopefully. Its not a huge splash but it would make sense for the Reds. Hopefully they are not asking too much though or Jockety won’t pull the trigger
Since the All Star break, the Reds are falling fast….need to do something before Reds fans turn to the Bengals.
I honestly would not mind him on the Reds. I know they are fading right now but this would be a nice pickup for us even when phillips and votto get back…. hopefully. Its not a huge splash but it would make sense for the Reds. Hopefully they are not asking too much though or Jockety won’t pull the trigger
Looks like nobody’s in on Bonifacio.
The “Nobody’s” are the ones who can’t afford the asking price.
Lol, maybe later tonight or tomorrow.
Last year in Toronto, Bonafacio’s play was beyond abysmal. No glove, no arm, no bat. Caveat emptor on this guy.
Reds, Giants, Royals still in talks.
I’m a little disappointed that Atlanta isn’t in on him. I think he’d be good for us!
If he goes to the Pirates, then a bigger trade is brewing.
Why would the Pirates want him? Absolutely not helpful. The outfielders are set.
Cespedes & Napoli would be perfect for the Mariners if the Red Sox can swing a three way deal w/ the Cubs, Padres, Rays, or the Rangers (maybe also get Zobrist, Rios, or Bonifacio). What will cost to make the three way deal?