The Royals have announced a two-year deal with free agent catcher Drew Butera. He’ll receive a $3.8MM guarantee, with $1.5MM for the 2017 season and $2.3MM in 2018, according to Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
Butera, 33, had a career year last season in Kansas City. He only took 133 plate appearances, but produced a .285/.328/.480 batting line with four home runs. That represented rather a significant improvement over his typical output, which stood at just .185/.241/.266 entering the season.
Certainly, Kansas City won’t be banking on that kind of sustained production from the veteran. He’ll be tasked mostly with serving as a defensively capable reserve to workhorse backstop Salvador Perez.
Though it’s a bit surprising to see Butera land a two-year guarantee, we’ve seen a variety of utility infielders score multi-year pacts at similarly modest salaries in the recent past. Given the state of catching around the game, it was certainly an opportune time for him to turn in a useful season at the plate.
i can’t believe he’s still kicking around in my next life I wanna be a crappy back up catcher.
It’s a premium position, but two years for a guy with a career BA below the Mendoza line is kind of shocking.
I feel your pain. It seemed like George Kottaras was around for decades, and he wasn’t any better.
Kottaras is still around too. He is just unsigned.
ik its not a big number. but seems like an overpay. dude will be lucky to ops 600 for the duration of the contract. all defense
some teams have better number 3 catchers on their roster at league minimum
That picture is Josh Thole not Drew Butera.
Lol. Josh thole may as well be the poster boy for crappy backup catchers anyways I guess
Somehow Thole came up when I searched for Butera, and I just chose the thumbnail b/c it showed a catcher. Fixed it.
I love you MLBTR, even though you lead the league in errors and omissions.
Sal Butera: KC’s catching corps.
To all the haters,
How did you do while you were in the Majors ?
That’s my cousin your talking about.
Sal Butera is his father and he also was a catcher for the Twins and Blue Jays in the 80’s
And YES the above picture is Drew Butera not Josh Thole.
Don’t talk sh– unless you can back it up.
I am a Royals fan & I am glad that the Royals resigned Drew. I was wrong about Drew when they chose him over Erik Kratz. Drew has been very solid for KC (both catching & batting). I am glad that he signed a 2 year deal (& he is a World Champ).
I little used backup catcher reminds me of a long snapper in football.