Report: D-backs add veteran Emilio Bonifacio on minor-league deal
Jul 31, 2017, 9:26 AM
Atlanta Braves left fielder Emilio Bonifacio (64) bats against the San Diego Padres in a baseball game Sunday, April 16, 2017, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 9-2. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Arizona Diamondbacks are bringing back a player who broke into the big leagues with the club a decade ago, adding veteran Emilio Bonifacio.
Not a trade, but Arizona has added a utility guy. Emilio Bonifacio to Diamondbacks on a minor-league deal, per source.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 31, 2017
Bonifacio, 32, played in 38 games for the Atlanta Braves this season, putting up a line of .132/.150/.211. He was designated for assignment by Atlanta on June 2.
The Dominican native broke into the big leagues with the Diamondbacks in 2007 and saw action in a total of 19 games before he was traded to the Washington Nationals for relief pitcher Jon Rauch in July of 2008. He has also played with Miami, Kansas City, Toronto, the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs.
In other D-backs’ news, the team suddenly has a glaring need at shortstop.
Chris Owings was hit with a pitch while attempting to lay down a bunt in Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium and suffered a fractured right middle finger.
Ketel Marte, according to MLB.com reporter Steve Gilbert, is dealing with tragedy in his family.
#Dbacks expected to place SS Ketel Marte on bereavement list following the death of his mother in a car crash yesterday.
— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) July 31, 2017
And Nick Ahmed has been on the disabled list since late June after suffering a fractured right hand after being hit by a pitch in a game against St. Louis.
Bonifacio has played shortstop in the past, but not in a Major League game since 2014.
An immediate possibility for the D-backs would be to recall shortstop Jack Reinheimer from Triple-A Reno. The 25-year-old has played well for the Aces, hitting .283 this season with four home runs and 44 RBI. Reinheimer was acquired in the Welington Castillo-Mark Trumbo deal in June of 2015 with the Seattle Mariners.
