Nats Make Their Moves

The Washington Nationals just dealt closer Jon Rauch (4-2, 17 saves, 2.98 ERA) to the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2B prospect Emilio Bonifacio. Baseball America rated Bonifacio as the D-Backs No. 6 prospect.

According to the Nats' official release, Bonifacio (.302 (111-for-367) with 18 doubles, five triples, one home run, 29 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 85 games with Tucson of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League this year) is one of the fastest players in the minors and projects as a future lead-off hitter. Shouldn't be too hard for him to meet that expectation on the Nats, where the only requirement is to have two functional legs. A pulse is optional, as proven by current leadoff man Willie Harris (.221 avg. through the All-Star break).

Next they made sure Bonifacio, who I'm sure will be the Nats' 2009 Opening Day starter at second, had a double play partner, giving SS Cristian Guzman a two-year contract extension.

A few thoughts:

• I was afraid GM Jim Bowden would try to hold up the bank for Rauch like he did with both he AND Chad Cordero last trade deadline. A top prospect at a position where the Nats had no long-term options is a nice haul.

• Is Arizona the new Cincinnati? Bowden used to love dealing for players on his old team (Austin Kearns, Willy Mo Pena, Jose Guillen, Ryan Wagner, etc., etc., etc.). Now it's Asst. GM Mike Rizzo, the former Director of Scouting with the Diamondbacks, grabbing from his old team. Washington previously acquired Matt Chico and minor leaguer Garret Mock from Arizona for Livan Hernandez.

• Financial terms haven't been reported yet, but my gut reaction is that I don't like the Guzman deal. Last time he was in a contract year he batted .274 with 10 SBs and 84 runs scored. Next year he drops to .219. Next year he's injured. This year (another contract year) he's had a career year (.310, 56 R thus far), but I'm hesitant about what next year holds.

His name was on the trade market, with teams like the Dodgers interested. He could have brought a nice piece in return. Now he's under contract and (depending on the terms) unlikely to move. Feels a lot like the deals the Nats gave to Ronnie Belliard and Dmitri Young last July. Those contracts haven't panned out at all.

UPDATE: MLB.com writer Bill Ladson reports the Guzman deal is two-years at $8 million per. The Nats must really think he can replicate this year's success for that kind of money.