Sometimes, even a rutting pig gets lucky and finds a truffle.
It could be argued that the Cubs best player in the first part of this season is Emilio Bonifacio.
Bonifacio in his first 24 games has hit .337, .395 OBP, with 10 SB and a 0.9 WAR (which projects for the full season at 5.6 WAR). He also has a fine fielding percentage of .974 while playing 5 different positions. As a super-utility player, Bonifacio has turned into a de facto starter.
When the Royals released him, Bonifacio was probably the 751st best player in baseball (based upon every team had 25 players on their major league rosters). If you exclude the Cubs, then he moves up to the 725th best player in the majors. And if you extrapolate his WAR pace, he is playing at a level of a Top 60 player in baseball.
So the best player on the Cubs current roster was ranked as a AAAA player by the league at the end of spring training. Nothing really happened to Bonifacio except that he got playing time with the Cubs, and earned a roster spot. A roster spot on one of the worst Cubs squads in 50 years. For if Bonifacio started the year as the 751st player in baseball, and quickly rose to the ranks of Best Cub, that implies that the rest of the 24 man roster for the team is also collectively wandering at the 750 level. (There are a few exceptions, such as Rizzo, Castro hitting and Samardzija pitching, but as a team of interchangeable spare AAAA parts, it is easy to see how a motivated Bonifacio has risen to the top of the depth chart.)
Showing posts with label Bonifacio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bonifacio. Show all posts
May 3, 2014
March 8, 2014
40 MAN MOVES
The Cubs 40 man roster has numerous players who are out of options, according to MLBTR.
Players on a 40-man roster players who have less than five years service time and are out of minor league options must clear waivers before being sent to the minors. In theory, a team risks losing a player if he cannot make the 25 man roster.
The Cubs have 11 players who are out of options.
George Kottaras, Wesley Wright, Justin Ruggiano, James McDonald, Pedro Strop, Wellington Castillo, Jeff Samardzija, Luis Valbuena, Travis Wood, Donnie Murphy and Alberto Cabrera.
There are a few who are guaranteed 25 man roster spots: Samardzija, Wood, Valbuena, Castillo, with newcomers Kottaras, Wright, Ruggiano.
Strop would appear to win the set-up bullpen role, and Cabrera could be battling for the final bullpen spot with McDonald if Arrieta is the 5th starter as camp breaks.
It puts Murphy in the weakest spot. Even though he showed some power in his short tenure with the Cubs, he has never found consistency in the majors. Emilio Bonifacio, who signed a minor league deal, is more likely to make the 25 man roster because of his position versatility and ability to lead off.
It is not to say that the Cubs should be not looking at the waiver wire to upgrade any of their positions.
Players on a 40-man roster players who have less than five years service time and are out of minor league options must clear waivers before being sent to the minors. In theory, a team risks losing a player if he cannot make the 25 man roster.
The Cubs have 11 players who are out of options.
George Kottaras, Wesley Wright, Justin Ruggiano, James McDonald, Pedro Strop, Wellington Castillo, Jeff Samardzija, Luis Valbuena, Travis Wood, Donnie Murphy and Alberto Cabrera.
There are a few who are guaranteed 25 man roster spots: Samardzija, Wood, Valbuena, Castillo, with newcomers Kottaras, Wright, Ruggiano.
Strop would appear to win the set-up bullpen role, and Cabrera could be battling for the final bullpen spot with McDonald if Arrieta is the 5th starter as camp breaks.
It puts Murphy in the weakest spot. Even though he showed some power in his short tenure with the Cubs, he has never found consistency in the majors. Emilio Bonifacio, who signed a minor league deal, is more likely to make the 25 man roster because of his position versatility and ability to lead off.
It is not to say that the Cubs should be not looking at the waiver wire to upgrade any of their positions.
February 16, 2014
NEW SIGNEE
You just cannot have enough .240 hitting infielders on your roster.
The Cubs signed newly released Royal Emilio Bonifacio to a minor league contract with major league incentives if he makes the squad out of spring training. His total pay package with the Cubs could reach $2.5 million.
The Royals had just signed Bonifacio to a $3.5 million contract to avoid arbitration, but released him only a week later. This raised some serious questions about why the Royals would sign a player then release him in a short time period. The move to open a roster spot was precipitated by the Royals signing LHP Bruce Chen. Chen, 36, went 9-4, 3.27 ERA and 1.7 WAR for the Royals last season.
Bonifacio, 28, hit .243 in 136 GP for the Blue Jays and Royals last season. He hit 3 HR, 31 RBI, 28 SB, .295 OBP with a 1.3 WAR. He can play second and third base and any outfield position, and he contributes good value on the bases. He also played shortstop in 2011.
CBS Sports reports that Bonifacio had other major league offers, but took the Cubs minor league deal. That means the other offers were problem at a much lower base salary. Bonifacio may have also believed he had the best chance to start with the Cubs at second base, or at least have a bench spot with the team because of his versatility.
Whether new manager Renteria is going to have an open competition for roster positions is unclear. This signing does probably put Logan Watkins back in AAA to scrap for playing time, especially if Baez is going to take reps at second base. It also puts pressure on Donnie Murphy to show the power he suddenly had with the Cubs last season if he is going to make the team as a back-up role player. The Cubs are still devoid of team power, especially off the bench.
The Cubs signed newly released Royal Emilio Bonifacio to a minor league contract with major league incentives if he makes the squad out of spring training. His total pay package with the Cubs could reach $2.5 million.
The Royals had just signed Bonifacio to a $3.5 million contract to avoid arbitration, but released him only a week later. This raised some serious questions about why the Royals would sign a player then release him in a short time period. The move to open a roster spot was precipitated by the Royals signing LHP Bruce Chen. Chen, 36, went 9-4, 3.27 ERA and 1.7 WAR for the Royals last season.
Bonifacio, 28, hit .243 in 136 GP for the Blue Jays and Royals last season. He hit 3 HR, 31 RBI, 28 SB, .295 OBP with a 1.3 WAR. He can play second and third base and any outfield position, and he contributes good value on the bases. He also played shortstop in 2011.
CBS Sports reports that Bonifacio had other major league offers, but took the Cubs minor league deal. That means the other offers were problem at a much lower base salary. Bonifacio may have also believed he had the best chance to start with the Cubs at second base, or at least have a bench spot with the team because of his versatility.
Whether new manager Renteria is going to have an open competition for roster positions is unclear. This signing does probably put Logan Watkins back in AAA to scrap for playing time, especially if Baez is going to take reps at second base. It also puts pressure on Donnie Murphy to show the power he suddenly had with the Cubs last season if he is going to make the team as a back-up role player. The Cubs are still devoid of team power, especially off the bench.
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