The Rays have signed veteran utilityman Emilio Bonifacio to a minor-league deal, per a club announcement. He has received an invitation to participate in MLB camp this spring.
Bonifacio, 33, opened the 2018 season on the indy ball circuit and later joined the Brewers organization for a brief, late-season run. Ultimately, he failed to appear in the majors for the first time since way back in 2006. In the intervening eleven years, Bonifacio took 2,894 plate appearances at the game’s highest level, slashing a modest .256/.313/.333 along the way.
Obviously, all of those opportunities did not come because of Bonifacio’s bat. He has swiped 166 bags in the majors and provided highly graded overall baserunning, all while comfortably lining up all over the field. Bonifacio has spent the majority of his career at second base and center field, but also has ample experience at shortstop, third, and both corner outfield spots.
Good signing.
Thanks for the laugh. He’s sucked for years now.
Emilio is a Sam Fuld type of player that Rays fans are already familiar with…
may end up being a Carlos Gomez type of veteran player in the dugout.
Lolwut? He has no shot at making the team and comping him even to late career Carlos Gomez?
Why don’t you try reading what I wrote…
I compared him to Sam Fuld as a player, and to Gomez as a veteran presence in the dugout…
Sam Fuld actually had great defense in the OF, Boni passes because he can play all positions but at a limited scale on defense, also he’s not the same guy an he was 10 years ago he could steal 60 bases if he could get on base, he doesn’t have the same speed. I love Boni but u can’t hide the truth.
I feel likes hes been around since 1982
I can’t believe that he’s only 33 years old
Watched him play for the Lancaster JetHawks back in the day. Good times.
He will be in AAA. He will provide nothing but organization depth and maybe help some young guys. He’s not a good defender which has hurt his ability to stay in the big leagues.
He used to be awful at 3b with the Marlins. Fair at 2b and the OF, but 3b was his worst position.
Guy never really had the nerve, or skills to steal on his own. Can still almost hear Jack Mckeon screaming “GO” from the dugout bonifacio’s 1 decent season trying to make him into a decent player and it did work.. For 1 year, then Trader jack retired yet again and Boni was back to hopeless.
He was awful in Toronto. For a speed guy he was a putrid bunter. Wasn’t very good in the OF and actually played poorly at 2B. When Kawasaki was outplaying Boni the Blue Jays were too stubborn to bench Boni. One of many reasons why AA wasn’t as good a GM as people thought.
I’m just glad Atlanta can’t sign him now…till he gets released in spring training that is.
*crickets*
was still fast for the Long Island Ducks last year may be back lol but he has the 1 thing you can’t teach anyone to have
Jordy Valdespin looked pretty quick too last year
Valdespin was there too last year maybe hes coming back too
Keep him away from Atlanta plz
Gotta love the eleven different uniform circles on baseball reference
Thank you Rays from the Braves fans!
Just glad the braves stopped pursuing this guy….