The Los Angeles Dodgers got out in front of the free agency market by signing Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract, and in the time since they’ve continued adding to their roster while also acquiring organizational depth.
Among Dodgers signings this offseason are the likes of Michael Conforto and Blake Treinen, both of whom figure to have key roles in 2025; plus Aaron Bracho, Joe Jacques, Justin Jarvis and Sam Carlson to Minor League contracts.
According to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers also signed David Bote to a Minor League deal that includes a non-roster invite to Spring Training:
Deal includes an invite to big league spring training, per source. https://t.co/KjwqtgwqWU
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) December 14, 2024
Bote became a free agent this winter when the Chicago Cubs declined their $7 million team option for 2025. Bote instead receive a $1 million buyout as part of the contract terms.
That stemmed from a five-year, $15 million extension Bote signed with the Cubs in April 2019. Bote approached the Cubs in in negotiations after he hit .239/.319/.408 with nine doubles, two triples, six home runs and 33 RBI in 210 plate appearances over 74 games in 2018.
A former top prospect in the Cubs farm system, Bote has been mired by inconsistency throughout his Major League career. He’s spent time in the big leagues over parts of six seasons with the Cubs, but played all of 2023 in the Minors.
The Cubs outrighted Bote off their 40-man roster following the 2022 season. He didn’t have the requisite three years of Major League service time or a prior instance of being outrighted in order to reject the assignment.
Bote returned to the Majors this year, and hit .304/.333/.391 with four doubles and six RBI in 38 games. Across his last 175 plate appearances with Chicago, which dates back to 2022, Bote has a 110 wRC+.
How David Bote fits with Dodgers
Bote possesses the type versatility the Dodgers front office covets with their depth signings. He primarily has played second base and third base, but also logged time at first base, shortstop, left field and right field.
The 31-year-old also threw a scoreless inning in his pitching debut this year.
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