They think highly of Bote. Much beyond a utility infielder. (3rd highest exit velo in MLB last year gets mentioned quite a bit by Theo and Jed)

He has proven doubters wrong at every level. Maybe he will again.

It's 3 million per year so Im not too worried about it.

I mean it's just another stat to consider. But no, Im pointing out what Theo keeps saying.


Epstein indicated Bote's play right now is the "floor" based on his talent.

"With how hard he hits the ball and his desire to learn and make adjustments and his work ethic, there's a significant chance he raises the floor and takes on a greater role in the future," Epstein said.

You know who else had a great exit velocity?

Avi Garcia.

_________________

Yaz

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Not sure why many of you don't understand that this is all future money. The Cubs cried poor with their 2019 team salary. Not their 2022 team salary.

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

In 2022 Ricketts will cry poor as the roster is full of bums like Bote earning $5M

Hayward will only have two years left by then.

_________________

Bote is sorta like their Tom Waddle. You aren't sure why he is there, but he seems to do well enough to justify his meager existence.

_________________
"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Clearly the Cubs needed some positive headlines in the midst of their 1-(4/+) start cuz holy shit, this pitching staff looks primed to implode and render the Cubs as a team that might have to 27 Yankees their way to 80something wins at best.

The scariest part = while, say, San Diego keeps pulling kids like Dinelson Lamet, Chris Paddack, and now this Margevicius guy out of their ass-- St Louis brings up a kid Flaherty last year who steps up and !!!--- Tampa Bay finds Yandy Chitinous, hell even the Marlins manage to have a rotation where guys who intrigue you like Alcantara and Pablo Lopez are supplanted by seemingly/potentially SOLID guys like Caleb Smith and Trevor Richards.... Where are the Cubs' guys like that?

I'll give you Hendricks, who I'd say is a solid lil #3 / good to great #4 who can absolutely redline as a #2 when everything goes right and his ERA enters Kershaw Country (during a season where he out pitched Kershaw twice in the NLCS) but outside of that... Sheeeeeit. Do Theo Epstein teams, let alone the Cubs, ever find guys who pop up out of nowhere and grab a (top of the) rotation spot and go on to be proper assets you don't have to pay $$$MARKET VALUE$$$ for when they're baseball-middle-aged++ ??

Bahhhh.... TLDR. #WeGotBote #EverybodyIn (which has to be their slogan cuz with this pitching staff you sure as hell aren't getting #EveryoneOut =)

_________________

I always enjoy your fantasy baseball perspective crossing over to real life baseball.


This post is a who's who of Fantasy MAYBE FUTURE STUDS

This contract is kind of weird.

I agree...Jake Arrieta is probably the last example of a guy who unexpectedly was great.

_________________

Kyle Hendricks is a top of the rotation guy who fits that description to a tee.

He just doesnt fit the usual mold and he doesnt profile as that high in fantasy baseball where strikeouts are even more important.

His non strikeout numbers are in line with Carlos Carrasco, Gerrit Cole, Steven Strasburg and all the other great #2's who would be 1's on bad teams.