New York Yankees Must Trade For Emilio Bonifacio

Sep 16, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman

(64) drives in a run with a broken bat single against the Cleveland Indians in the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

In a move to make room for signing Bruce Chen, the Kansas City Royals designated utilityman Emilio Bonifacio for assignment. He was a part of the mega deal last off-season between the Marlins and Blue Jays and was acquired for nothing back in August by KC who needed help at the second base position. The Yankees must strike quickly and pick him up.

Why you ask? Well first of all, he would provide depth at second, third, shortstop and even the outfield, places the Yankees depth is being pushed right now. Bonifacio struggled for Toronto, putting up a .218/.258/.321 line in 94 games. With KC, in a better lineup, he posted a .285/.352/.348 line.

He doesn’t have a lot of power, but that’s okay. He can be used as a pinch runner off the bench like Brett Gardner has done and Homer Bush did back in the 1990’s. Bonifacio has stolen over 40 bases once in his career, stole 30 two seasons ago, and 28 last year.  Having another speed threat with Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury, when Joe Girardi likes to do things like hit and run and bunt and steal, wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

The Yankees also can’t depend on Brian Roberts to stay healthy at second base. We looked at the second base options on Saturday and I mentioned Bonifacio as a possible target after this season.

Bonifacio is due to make $3.5 mill this season, and at this point, with the Yankees going to blow past the $189 million threshold, why not add some depth that won’t cost you that much in a trade and wouldn’t cost you a draft pick like it would to sign Stephen Drew?

The Yankees have a great opportunity to add some depth to the club. It’s up to Brian Cashman to pull the trigger before the Los Angeles Dodgers or another team swoops in. Go get Bonifacio.

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