The Diamondbacks’ acquisition of Jon Rauch is getting good reviews.
Unnamed major league executives told Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman that in second baseman Emilio Bonifacio, the Nationals did not get enough for Rauch, positioned to the D-Backs’ closer the next two seasons.
“I was surprised that’s all Washington got,” one AL executive told Heyman.
Tampa Bay was also interested in Rauch.
Bonifacio, 23, has been likened to Chone Figgins and Delino DeShields, and certainly has the speed and defensive skills to compete at the major league level right now.
Washington GM Jim Bowden likened Bonifacio to Luis Castillo, who is in his 13th major league season with a career .293 average and 338 stolen bases.
Rauch, on the other hand, has shown with 17 saves this season that he can handle closing, and he could inherit that role — at a very affordble rate — since Brandon Lyon will become a free agent after 2008.
Brian Fuentes, whose name also is on the market – is making $5.05 million this season, a figure Lyon certainly could approach over the winter.
Considering, Danys Baez will make $6.33 million this year and next, Octavio Dotel is making $5.5 million this year and Kyle Farnsworth is making $5.66 million
Rauch’s contract will cost the D-Backs $2 million in 2009 and $2.9 million in 2010, on a team option.

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