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Matthew Cerrone

Trades: D’Backs get Rauch, Astros get Wolf
By Matthew Cerrone - Jul 22, 2008 6:47 pm

Earlier today, the D’Backs announced that they have acquired RHP Jon Rauch from the Nationals in exchange for 2B Emilio Bonifacio.

Rauch, 29, was 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA with 17 saves in 48 chances for the Nationals this season.

His 6.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the fourth best in baseball.

Bonifacio was ranked as Arizona’s sixth-best prospect prior to the season, according to Baseball America.

Meanwhile, the Astros acquired LHP Randy Wolf from the Padres for minor league RHP Chad Reineke.

31 Responses to “Trades: D’Backs get Rauch, Astros get Wolf”

  1. Midtown says:

    Who the heck is going to close games for the Nats now?

  2. dbd2150 says:

    Wtf man? The Mets couldn’t offer anything better than Emilio Bonifacio? Rauch would have been perfect for our pen in the 8th inning and possibly closing if anything had happened to Wagner. Doesn’t Omar have any connections in Washington? I know you don’t want to deal within your division, but wouldn’t an offer of Carp or Tejada been better?

    • sherlockcollector says:

      OMAR is a joke!!! And while we need a corner outfielder we need at least one more pitcher.

      PLEASE, PLEASE someone tell me why they didn’t let Santana start the ninth. This is the worst loss of the season and Wagner is a coward. He went down last year too when we needed him. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I can’t take this anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Gina says:

      Do you mean Tejada as in Ruben Tejada? Who’s like 18 and isn’t hitting yet? That wouldn’t make sense for us or them.

  3. Aquadealer says:

    Rauch should have been in the Milledge deal

  4. Gina says:

    If they’re giving away players now maybe we can get Flores back if we ask nicely.

  5. rdf8585 says:

    What a brutal trade for the Nats. A very good reliever who is very cheap through 2010… for what? A defense-first utility infielder with no pop? That’s just a terrible return on Rauch.

    • Ryn05 says:

      Bonifacio isn’t putting up bad numbers, but he isn’t showing any power.

      .300 avg, .350 OBP with 17 steals in ~80 games, if he’s playing GG defense that’s not a bad middle infielder.

      It sure would have been nice to land Rauch for a Murphy.

      • rdf8585 says:

        There are certainly worse prospects than Bonafacio, but he’s not nearly worth Rauch.

  6. jstocks5 says:

    this is the first piece of information that i saw on mlb.com before it was on metsblog

  7. djstue says:

    Wow. How’d he go so cheap? Maybe they can turn around and trade him to NY.

    • ASod1975 says:

      Nah…the D-Backs have had more bullpen problems than the Mets of late. Lyon is finally imploding after a solid first half. Qualls has been up and down, Pena was great early but so-so since and Cruz and Slaten are hurt. They needed Rauch pretty badly. That being said, they didn’t have to give up much to get him. Bowden should have at least gotten a lower-level pitching prospect as well…

  8. JDuelz (Athens, GA) says:

    Dammit, does this mean I have to drop Rauch now in fantasy ball?

    • ASod1975 says:

      Don’t drop him just yet. Wait to see how it shakes out. I have a feeling he’ll be closing games for Arizona before too long. His stuff is better than Lyon’s, as are his numbers this year.

  9. Mike_M says:

    Good deal by the D-Backs. I wish the Mets had made a move on Rauch. What is up with the Astros though? I can’t wrap my brain around that move at all. Do they honestly think they are a contender, and if they do, how does Randy Wolf really help them over the hump in the central? Baffling.

    • rdf8585 says:

      Wolf has a 6+ ERA away from Petco’s friendly surroundings.

      • dave56dj says:

        regardless of wolfs stats, I have to agree, why in gods name wold they make that trade? They are well under 500, what gives? Bizzare!

        • MetLifer says:

          Both pitchers in the trade are horrible. I think the Astros made the trade because they need a decent warm body with the injury to Oswalt. It’s not like they gave up much.

  10. MetLifer says:

    17 saves in 48 chances? Is that even possible. Regardless… this is a bone headed move by the Nats GM!

  11. MetLifer says:

    Sometimes I wonder about collusion!

  12. guierllNO MOta says:

    remember when Bowden didnt trade Soriano ang the prizes they coulda had for him and now they give up their one chip for nothing? bizarre is correct

    As for the Randy Wolf trade, dont you get the feeling he will be an Astro for a very short period, I think they took the risk and said they will get better prospects for Wolf on 7/31 then they gave up on 7/22

    I feel like Wolf may be a Ranger very soon

  13. MetLifer says:

    What about the 2 year 16mill extension to Guzman? Bowden is on crack!

  14. metz1 says:

    we need a righthanded closer now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! are you listening Omar?

  15. metz1 says:

    not trying to be a jerk but i said earlier in the season that wagner would be better off with a righty closer in the bullpen too. ala orosco/mcdowell?

  16. gottabelieve07 says:

    Who’s this Matthew Cerrone guy?

    And what’s he doing posting on Metsblog??

  17. fongulalou says:

    Warm fuzzy feeling knowing omar has his finger on the pulse
    of the league.Rauch for a slap hitting,middle-infield prospect?
    Great!,I,m sure he couldn’t have come up w/ a better offer then
    that?Right? As an earlier post noted,He should have been incl.
    in the Millage deal.When I first saw THAT deal noted on espn
    “Mets Trade Lastings Millage to Washington” I was waiting for
    the RP who would be coming over w/Scheider & Church.
    Well,I guess Rauch doesn’t fit omar’s/tony b’s player profile,
    know what i’m sayin’?