David

Bote

The 31-year-old hurler was designated for assignment on Friday as the Cubs needed to free up a spot on their 40-man roster though. The long-time Cub passed through waivers unclaimed though and will continue to function as additional depth at the Triple-A level.

The 31-year-old infielder has seen extremely limited action with the Cubs this season, slashing .304/.333/.391 with zero homers, six RBI and a 13/2 K/BB ratio across 48 plate appearances. There’s a chance that a team looking for bench depth could come calling on waivers.

Bote is back in the majors for the first time in 2024. The infielder will take the roster spot of Nick Madrigal, with Madrigal heading to Iowa in the corresponding move. Bote is starting Sunday and playing third base against the Reds, but there’s no real potential fantasy significance in his profile.

Bote, entering the final year of a five-year contract that’s paying him $5.5 million in 2024, is off the 40-man roster and probably won’t make the Cubs even if he has a legitimate case. He’s batting .273/.333/.758 in 36 plate appearances.

The 30-year-old slugger didn’t enter the game until the seventh inning, but that didn’t stop him from making his presence felt. Bote blasted a go-ahead solo homer off of left-hander Anthony Gose in the seventh that put the Cubs ahead to stay. Three of his four total hits on the spring have now left the yard, as he’s hitting .286 (4-for-14) with seven RBI and a 4/2 K/BB ratio through his first eight contests.

It’s pretty amazing that Bote has put together such a streak, considering it’s over the course of 12 days. He’s so far out of the Cubs’ minds that he’s just a part-time player in Triple-A right now; last night’s start was his first in four days. Still, Bote has been fantastic after a slow start, hitting .339/.459/.642 in 31 games since the beginning of June. Ideally, he’d get his chance to make his way elsewhere. However, the five-year, $15 million contract that the Cubs signed him to an eon ago doesn’t expire until after next season.

This was a risk-free move for the Cubs, as there was no chance of Bote being claimed off waivers while still being owed $10.5 million on his long-term deal. Bote spent much of last season rehabbing from shoulder surgery, but he hit .259/.315/.431 in 41 games as a major leaguer. There’s still a chance of him turning his career around and becoming a useful regular, but first he needs to show he can stay healthy and get his strikeout rate under control.

Bote got the scoring started with a three-run homer off Graham Ashcraft in the second inning and later added a two-run double in the sixth. The 29-year-old has actually swung the bat well down the stretch, but it’s been a disappointing year on the whole for him, as he missed extended time coming back from shoulder surgery and even found himself in the minors for a month. He’s now hitting just .212 with 19 homers in 183 games dating back to the start of the abbreviated 2020 campaign.

Bote’s leadoff homer in the top of the seventh inning and his sac fly in the eighth were the Cubs’ only runs of the game and wound up being all they would need. He’s starting to heat up a bit, going 9-for-28 with a couple dingers in his last eight contests.

Bote did his damage in the seventh inning -- just after right-hander Jacob deGrom had left the game. He victimized Seth Lugo for his 393-foot shot, increasing the Cubs advantage to 4-0. That would be his only hit in four at-bats on the night. On the season, the 29-year-old is slashing a mere .239/.289/.366 to go with a pair of homers and four RBI through his first 76 plate appearances.