SAN FRANCISCO – Looking for any sort of edge in a pennant race, the Cubs signed Emilio Bonifacio to a minor-league deal, hoping the utility guy will add another dimension to their team.
The Bonifacio deal follows the signing of Quintin Berry, a pinch-running specialist with 351 stolen bases during his minor-league career. Both players will go through Triple-A Iowa before potential September call-ups.
“We’ll see how it all plays out,” manager Joe Maddon said before Tuesday night’s showdown against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. “When you have the expanded rosters, you can be really specific with what you’re looking for.”
[MORE: The Cubs are taking the nation by storm on latest SI cover]
The White Sox released Bonifacio earlier this month. In the middle of a disappointing season on the South Side, Bonifacio didn’t cause havoc or carve out a super-utility role, hitting .167 in 78 at-bats and stealing only one base in five attempts.
But the Cubs appreciated Bonifacio’s energy and ability to switch-hit and play all over the field last year. The Cubs packaged Bonifacio and reliever James Russell in a deadline trade with the Atlanta Braves, acquiring catching prospect Victor Caratini.
[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Cubs fans!]
MLB
Maddon always wanted his Tampa Bay Rays to be aggressive and last year the Cubs certainly noticed how the Kansas City Royals ran all the way to a Game 7 loss to the Giants in the World Series.
“It’s something that I had the privilege of having when I managed the Rays,” Maddon said. “You can see it more recently with the Royals last year, what they were able to do in those particular moments. Speed plays.”
