NOVEMBER 11: Bote seems unlikely to be ready for the start of next season. His surgery comes with a six-month recovery timeline, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago was among those to relay (Twitter link). Depending upon when he went under the knife, that’d seemingly keep him out until late April or early May if his recovery goes as planned.
NOVEMBER 9: Cubs utilityman David Bote recently underwent surgery on his left shoulder, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters (including Jordan Bastian of MLB.com) this evening. The extent of the procedure and a timetable for his recovery aren’t yet clear.
Bote separated that shoulder during a game in late May, an injury that cost him nearly two months of action. Largely because of that injury, Bote was limited to 327 plate appearances, slumping to a career-worst .199/.276/.330 line with eight home runs. He’d gotten off to a tough start even before the shoulder issue, but his .197/.273/.320 mark in 165 trips to the plate after returning from that IL stint marked a bit of a downturn even relative to his poor early-season numbers.
If he’s healthy heading into Spring Training, Bote figures to assume a utility role off the bench for manager David Ross. As things stand, the Cubs look likely to enter 2022 with a starting infield of Frank Schwindel, Nick Madrigal, Nico Hoerner and Patrick Wisdom. All those players hit right-handed, as does Bote, who’s likely to back up at multiple positions around the dirt. The 28-year-old is under contract through at least 2024 under the terms of the extension he signed in April 2019.
A career .227 hitter who is now both overpaid and injured. Great idea of Jed Hoyer to give him $13 million plus a couple option years
yeah, never got that
Theo was a part of that also. He did look like he might be a more effective utility player a few years ago, but seems to be regressing. I think they try to move him this off-season. Colorado is his home, and maybe he could fit in as utility player there. Maybe Cubs eat part of the salary. Duffy is a better option than Bote in my opinion.
Duffy is a FA. I doubt he comes back.
Doesn’t mean the Cubs can’t re-sign him. I know Ross liked him a lot. The Cubs may go a different direction with that position, like get a lefty bat or switch hitter. All right handed hitters on the infield right now.
Yeah, Theo (not Jed) should have checked his crystal ball and know he was gonna get injured a couple of years later.
Nevermind the fact that this is how much he would’ve been making in arbitration and easily what he would’ve got as a free agent before 2021.
Actually was the great Theo Epstein that gave Bode that contract
3mil a year is nothing. Within 5 years, 2.5 will be the league minimum. It increases by 1.5 mil every year until 2024. With a few options as well. It can get up to 7.6 mil
Why all the hate on Bote’s salary? Who cares how much he makes? Its not your money and the Cubs have plenty of it. And last time i checked, the Cubs roster wasn’t good enough or deep enough anyway. He’d be on the roster either way, so good for Bote.
Not to mention 3 million a year for 5 years is a decent gamble on a guy you think has some potential and has a floor of being a semi serviceable utility player (not saying he was going to be great).
He’s only making 3 million this year
The appeal is he playes multiple positions. Unfortunately in todays game that doesn’t really make him special anymore
That’s my point. And a utility infielder who can’t play short is kind of stupid cuz then you need another guy who could play short. Probably another mouth breather.
How do you pronounce his last name? Is it “boat” or is it “bo-tay”. Inquiring minds want to know.
Bo-tee
Bow-Tee
The kind of bow you put on a present…
Sunk, as in cost
He makes 13 million over 5 or yrs I think. He has never really got a fair shake, playing time wise. Look at Baez when he came up or Heyward. You would be surprised what someone could do when given a fare fare not 2 weeks. You knew they would go to Hoerner even if he did play well.
Bode signed for 15MM
“Bote” “David Bote”
$15 million is way to much however it’s a 5 year contract for $15 million which doesn’t sound so terrible. So cars, not knowing what the players name is you’re actually talking about you must be a Met Cardinal or a White Sox fan. Maybe you can be the new president of baseball operations for the Mets
Or the Cubbie fans like the ones Fox interviewed in 2002 who thought Mark Grace was still on the team
Bote has had plenty of chances and outside of looking pretty good the first year or so, he’s been a disappointment.
Hopefully Bote gets himself healthy and rebounds. Up to this point he has been an overall disappointment. I remember a couple of years ago when he signed the extension he was touted as the next Ben Zobrist.
Never really heard of that comparison, that’s silly… Never really thought of him as the next Zobrist… But a decent utility with some occasional power.
No doubt Not a good comparison. That came from a local Chicago sports radio talk show meaning take as one will.
A utility man with not that great of a glove. Then the league figured out how to pitch to him.
It’s time to move on from Bote. We’ve had wayyy too much of him in the starting lineups the last few years
If David Bote is starting more than i game per week, you likely are in trouble
Shake shake shake. Shake shake shake. Shake your Bote
No big deal insurance will pay that salary til we waive him