Will Mets Acquire Emilio Bonifacio?
The Kansas City Royals recently re-signed former Met Bruce Chen to a one-year, $3M contract that includes an option for 2015. To make room on the 40-man roster for Chen, KC designated Emilio Bonifacio for assignment. Will the Mets make a play for the speedy utlityman?
The 28-year-old Bonifacio has played at least 100 MLB games each in the outfield, at second base, and third base, and appeared at shortstop 97 times. Personally, based on his skill set, I think of him primarily as a second baseman — if, say, he was to become a regular at one position, that’s where I’d see him being most valuable.
Throughout his big-league career, the switch-hitting Bonifacio has had an inconsistent approach at the plate. At times, he’s been an undisciplined, wild and aggressive swinger, while at other times, he’s shown an ability to be more patient at the plate. His best year offensively was in 2011, when he played 156 games and batted .290 with a .360 OBP. A big reason for that big season? Heeding the advice (or was it demand?) by manager Jack McKeon to take more pitches and focus on getting on base. Bonifacio flourished under McKeon’s direction, taking over as the everyday leadoff man in late June of ’11 while playing multiple positions. The position he played most often that year? Shortstop — 67 times. He was far from spectacular as a shortstop, but, no worse than, say, Omar Quintanilla.
Of course, we know from advanced metrics that managers have absolutely no affect on a team, or individual player’s, on-field performance. But the old-schoolers may appreciate the McKeon – Bonifacio story — stories, for some, are more entertaining than numbers. Oh, and for what it’s worth, Bonifacio’s career (and on-base percentage) slid in 2012 — when Ozzie Guillen took over the Marlins. A coincidence, I’m sure, since Bonifacio didn’t do well for John Gibbons in Toronto, either — though, he did produce for Ned Yost, after being traded to the Royals and installed as the starting second baseman and #2 hitter in the lineup.
From the first time I saw Bonifacio play, I thought, “wow, imagine how this guy’s game would play in Citi Field.” He has great athleticism and is one of the fastest players in the game — two traits that are rewarded and valued when playing in a large park. I will never, ever understand why the Mets don’t work with, instead of against, the vast expanse of The Park at Shea Bridge, but perhaps someday it will be explained.
So, let’s review:
– The Mets need a leadoff batter
– The Mets need a utilityman who can at least fill in at shortstop
– The Mets could use real competition for Ruben Tejada at shortstop
– Speed and athleticism plays well in the Mets’ home park
– The Mets have no money and few trade chips to acquire anyone of value
– Emilio Bonifacio has had success as a leadoff batter
– Emilio Bonifacio is a super utilityman who can play shortstop
– Emilio Bonifacio was a regular SS for a brief period
– Emilio Bonifacio is athletic and fast
– Emilio Bonifacio has been DFA’d, so will require little to acquire
Is it me, or is this a no-brainer? I’m not suggesting that Bonifacio is the Mets’ answer at shortstop — or anywhere specific, for that matter. But couldn’t you see him batting leadoff every day for the Mets, moving among 2B, SS, LF, RF, CF, and occasionally giving David Wright a breather at 3B?
Shouldn’t the Mets be on the phone with the Royals immediately to work out a deal? Tell me in the comments if I’m missing something.
So, I don’t think Bonifacio is a credible leadoff hitter or threat to Tejada. At least, not without a second “manager helps you turn the corner” experience (which I’ve never heard of at the big league level). He is fast and cheap, though. I’d put him in the category of “Sure, why not?” but no higher.
I believe Bonifacio’s struggles in Toronto and in Miami under Guillen were due to emotional and/or confidence issues. From what I’ve heard, he wasn’t happy on the bench, and that can be construed as an attitude problem (not in a Jordany Valdespin way; it would seem to be more of an internal, sulking thing than an outward, disrespectful immaturity). Maybe so. But at the same time, I look at his raw abilities compared to the players on the Mets 40-man roster, and see him finding someplace to play at least 5-6 times a week — and if he’s on the field that often, sulking won’t be an issue. Some humans feed off of others, and Bonifacio seems to be one of those — in other words, if a manager instills him with confidence, he could be a great asset.
To me, he’s Tony Phillips Lite — less pop, but more speed. Couldn’t the Mets use Tony Phillips right now?
As for age affecting Bonifacio’s speed — first off, he’s going to be 29, not 39. Second, baseball players whose “game” is based on their legs tend to age well, maybe because even when they “lose a step,” they’re still faster than 90% of ballplayers. And, it’s not as drastic to baseball performance for a speedster to lose a few tenths in the 60-yard dash, as it is for a one-dimensional slugger to lose a few milliseconds of bat speed and/or pitch recognition. Juan Pierre, Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock, Otis Nixon, Eric Young Sr., Tim Raines, Willie Wilson, Bert Campaneris, and Kenny Lofton all played 15+ years and through their mid- to late-30s (or early 40s). Vince Coleman stole 42 bases when he was 33.
If no one grabs Bonifacio off waivers, the Royals are stuck with that $3.5 mil salary anyway, aren’t they? Either way, seems like a significant indictment.
That “speedsters age well” stuff is incredibly over-stated. Just because big strong dudes who can’t do anything else age poorly doesn’t mean you want a lousy speedster. If you want to talk Rickey, Brock, and Raines, well, they’re the best ever; compare their aging to Hank Aaron and Ted Williams. Bonifacio is no Rickey; the slugger who he’ll age better than is Jack Cust, not someone good.
Also, did you see those speed guys play OF late in their careers? Nixon was the only one who was still actually any good. Everyone else was just out there because they used to be good and managers aren’t good with change.
Yeah, 29 isn’t 39, but EB might need every last ounce of speed he ever had in order to contribute. Seriously, a K every 4 ABs and no position. Ugh.
Well, the last time I checked, the advanced metrics say 50% of marriages end in divorce, the United States has an obesity crisis, and that the planet is mired in global warming with continued downtrend in the absence of serious human intervention working together to for the common good on broad basis.
Where human behavior and output is concerned, it is, I think rather fool-hearty to believe as you do. Where living human beings are concerned, such as in baseball, and the afore cited examples, every act impacts every other on both individual and group basis, baseball being a sport which thrives on both.
It very much appears your beliefs on managerial impact, negates the human element out of the equation, negates the impact of leadership, communication, decision-making and all other things a manager does to impact one and all on the field and off. If that lack of input is to be believed in human terms, then the folks who take the field to play this the game – the players – must by default, be non-human to be unaffected. That makes me feel sorry for you, sad for you and the players you coached whom you have no problem taking credit for their ascension to pro ball in what amounts to self-serving hypocrisy. unless you can demonstrate otherwise to maintain credibility in this reader’s mind which may or may not matter to you one way or another.
Also, global warming cannot be blamed by, nor affected by human intervention any more than the ice age was caused by dinosaur farts.
😉
They’re both speedy utility types who can switch hit. Unless the Mets are going to carry Quintanilla on the 25 man roster as a back-up, then you can replace him with Bonifacio.
The ability to play one and a half positions vs. six is an extreme contrast.
But more to my thinking, the Mets should be building a pile of Young, Jr. / Bonifacio types. Considering the home park, I’d MUCH rather see redundancy with speedy, athletic players than the nonathletic, one-dimensional likes of Duda/Clark/Davis/Allen/Brown/Flores.
We’re in a new era — or, rather, cycle. Pitching, speed, defense are king, and two of those three skills are currently undervalued. The cash-strapped Mets should be exploiting that gap in the market by stockpiling athletic players — which, by the way, fit perfectly into their home park. What’s that concept called? Money – something. Some guy named Alderson is supposedly the godfather of it.
On offense, it’s hard to take advantage of a big park when you have zero pop. Per 575 PAs, he’s averaged 28 extra-base hits. A few more doubles turning into triples won’t suddenly make that an asset.
I’m not saying “stay far away!” but I am saying “keep your expectations very low”.
But, I envision Bonifacio getting one to two starts a week at SS, with the rest of his playing time spread among 2B, 3B, and all three OF positions.
Or, move Dan Murphy and Wilmer Flores to 1B in a platoon and make Bonifacio the starting second baseman. But then you have no place for the other 5 DHs to play.
Flores might have re-found his way after winter ball and allows you, if your in the position and Murphy is still producing to trade Murphy with some return and not get hurt by it. But if any of this is to happen you cannot forget the glaring holes in the bullpen…