Heading into the 2008 season, the Washington Nationals were expected to have a strong bullpen, with Jon Rauch serving as a strong setup man for closer Chad Cordero. Now neither man is anywhere to be found.
Cordero has missed much of the campaign with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, and he's slated to have season-ending surgery. Rauch had filled in admirably as the club's closer in Cordero's absence, posting 17 saves and a 2.98 ERA. But the Nationals realized the playoffs aren't in their immediate future, so they shipped Rauch to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for second baseman Emilio Bonifacio.
Rauch, the tallest player in baseball history at 6-foot-11 inches, is expected to be Arizona's prime setup man for closer Brandon Lyon, but he could easily assume closing duties if Lyon continues to struggle. While it's painful to part with such a reliable reliever as Rauch, the Nationals certainly seem to have landed a legitimate prospect in the 23-year-old Bonifacio.
Groomed to be Arizona's future second baseman, Bonifacio has all the tools to be a significant contributor at the major league level. This season with Triple-A Tucson, Bonifacio hit .302 with 18 doubles, five triples, 29 RBIs, and a homerun. He also swiped 18 bases, demonstrating exceptional speed on the base paths. In fact, Bonifacio was considered the fastest runner in Arizona's system and one of the fastest players in the minor leagues. He should energize Washington's offense for years to come.
