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We all love Javier Baez. He’s El Mago, makes crazy defensive plays and he’ll be the starting shortstop for the Cubs in 2019. However, he’s going to need days off and as much as his defense is good, he’s a lot better at second base. So, who’s going to be his backup and what’s the plan at second base?
Joe Maddon revealed the blueprint for his middle infield to begin the 2019 season. The early plan calls for David Bote backing up Baez at shortstop, while Ben Zobrist and Daniel Descalso will get most of the playing time at second.
There’s also a chance Ian Happ gets a look at second base.
Bote will work at SS behind Baez while Russell suspended. Descalso could get majority of time at 2B vs. RHP with Zobrist, Happ and Bote in mix
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) February 13, 2019
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Addison Russell, who is at spring training in Mesa, won’t be eligible to be on the Cubs roster until the first week of May, as he’s serving the rest of his suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence policy.
So, if Russell meets the team’s expectations on his conditional second chance, Bote is going to have a little more than a month to make the Cubs really think hard about a roster move. But for the first month or so, Bote will be the primary backup at shortstop.
We saw Bote flash the leather at third base in 2018, and he was good at second base too. Although he doesn’t have as much experience at shortstop, Bote did play the position in 15 games at Triple-A last season.
Topic of David Bote as a defensive SS came up yesterday at @BleacherNation. Went back and pulled his relevant work at Iowa last yr. Find him very adept at charging (stay until last clip), hands are +, arm strength is enough. Laterally not plus, but capable of a fine spot start. pic.twitter.com/uGNbJ60un8
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) February 12, 2019
Plus, Zobrist and Descalso haven’t played shortstop in a while, so Bote is the best option to backup Baez to start the season. He should be fine there.
Best case scenario for the Cubs? Joe Maddon has a hard time finding playing time for everyone because they’re all contributing. However, if and when Russell returns, outside of injury, Bote will most likely be the odd man out in May.
With 13 pitchers expected to be on the 25-man roster, the Cubs only have four spots open on the bench. The backup catcher takes one of those slots and if Russell comes back, Descalso, Zobrist and Happ are your other bench guys.
Speaking of Happ, the idea of him possibly being in the mix at second base probably has a low percentage of happening. He started 28 games at second in 2017, but he only logged two innings there in 2018.
However the playing time ends up being during the first six weeks of 2019, let’s just hope there are no injuries.
