The Dodgers signed infielder David Bote to a minor league deal, in line with Aram Leighton of Simply Baseball Media. As per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the deal consists of an invitation to the Dodgers’ large league Spring Coaching camp.
Bote grew to become a free agent when the Cubs purchased out (for $1MM) the $7MM membership choice on his providers for the 2025 season. The Cubs signed Bote to that five-year, $15MM extension in April 2019, after a debut season within the majors that noticed Bote hit .239/.319/.408 over 210 plate appearances whereas seeing at the least some motion at 5 completely different positions. Whereas Bote wasn’t a notable prospect throughout his time within the Cubs farm system, Chicago felt it was an honest funding to lock up a participant that appeared like at the least an honest utility infield match.
Bote himself initiated the talks concerning the extension, a choice that proved to be fairly clever for his monetary safety contemplating how his manufacturing tailed off after a giant 2019 season. After hitting .257/.362/.422 with 11 homers in 356 PA in 2019, Bote hit solely .200/.285/.353 in 472 complete PA in 2020-21. He rebounded to hit decently properly in 2022 however the Cubs nonetheless outrighted him off their 40-man roster at season’s finish.
Since Bote didn’t have sufficient service time to reject the outright task whereas retaining the remainder of his wage, he remained within the Chicago group. Bote didn’t see any large league time in 2023 however had his contract chosen once more to the Cubs’ roster this previous season, as he appeared in 32 video games.
Over his final 175 PA on the Main League degree, Bote has hit a really respectable .272/.320/.420, translating to a 110 wRC+. He has performed principally at second and third base with a handful of video games at first base, shortstop, and each nook outfield slots, so he provides the form of versatility that the Dodgers (and amongst many different groups) worth in potential bench items. Bote’s right-handed bat has had a bent for reverse splits, although his total numbers within the majors are comparatively even towards right-handed and left-handed pitching.
Los Angeles clearly already has a really crowded infield image, particularly now that Mookie Betts is being penciled in because the staff’s beginning shortstop in 2025. If Bote makes the roster, he can present depth behind Max Muncy and Gavin Lux at third and second, with Miguel Rojas because the backup shortstop behind Betts. Ought to he not break camp with this loaded roster, Bote would possibly contemplate opting out of his deal to pursue a clearer path to enjoying time elsewhere, or he may stay within the minors because the Dodgers don’t have a lot in the way in which of MLB-experienced depth on the farm.
