David Bote's lighting up the Cactus League...again
Plus, shoehorning Madrigal into the lineup does not solve leadoff and how long are they going to wait to sign a lefty reliever



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You know how you know spring training is too long? The Cubs still have three and a half more weeks of it left. That just means they have plenty of time for more guys to get hurt and for David Ross to talk himself into the annual spring myth that is David Bote.
For his career, Bote is a mediocre player with some occasional power.
He hit one of the coolest home runs in Cubs history way back in 2018.
A two-out, two-strike, game winning slam in a 4-3 win over the Nationals.
But for his career he’s a .231/.318/.393 hitter with below average athleticism at any of the infield spots he says he can play. He has a career OPS+ of 90, when league average is 100.
Despite the mind-numbing five year, $15 million contract Theo Epstein gave him in 2019, Bote’s no longer on the precious 40-man roster. The Cubs prioritized such utility player stars as Zach McKinstry and Miles Mastrobuoni over Bote.
And yet, Bote is lighting up the Cacti League with a slash of .615/.688/1.154 in 13 at bats. So, will this Bote redemption tour end up with him back on the Cubs big league roster for opening day?
Ugh, I hope not.