The Phillies have announced a deal with veteran catcher Drew Butera, as Jon Heyman of MLB Network first reported (Twitter link). It’s a minor-league arrangement that provides for a $1.3MM salary in the event that Butera is able to crack the MLB roster. He receives a spring invite.
Butera, 35, also picks up a $200K incentives package and notably early opt-out date of March 21st, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). That means he’ll have a shot to bolt to another organization late in camp if it seems there’s a better opportunity elsewhere.
A nine-year MLB veteran, Butera has never only once topped two hundred plate appearances in a single season — back in 2011, his sophomore campaign with the Twins. At the same time, he has reached triple-digit PAs in eight of those years.
Butera has carved out a robust career in spite of a lack of ability with the bat. He carries a meager .201/.258/.299 lifetime slash line, with just five home runs in 1,345 total trips to the plate. Butera doesn’t stand out in the pitch framing department either — actually, he has been a negative in recent years — but is otherwise sturdy behind the dish and has obviously carved out a reputation for handling a pitching staff.
For the Phillies, the signing gives the team another option to go with the youthful duo of Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp. Odds are, presuming no further additions are made, Butera will do battle with Knapp in camp for the right to open the year in the majors alongside Alfaro.
A robust career?
Hey….don’t knock him. He rarely gets 200 abs a yr yet has cashed in for over $8mil playing a game he loves. I’ll take that anyday.
So you agree that he’s had a “robust career”? Give me a break
No doubt….financially. Check out the definition of robust. He had a decent career considering he can’t hit. Not everyone is a hall of famer. He’s the norm….not the exception.
Dude he’s not even the norm. He’s a lifetime .201 hitter.
If we agree with you, will you let it go
Yadier Molina, Salvador Perez, and Buster Posey would be catchers that i would consider having robust careers. Butera is at the bottom of the barrel.
Who knows maybe he has a robust side career as a Suave shampoo hair model
Or, just suggesting this, you look up the word robust and see that one of the accepted definitions is able to perform under a wide range of conditions. That well describes most journeymen type players. I say well written by Jeff Todd.
Yeah he did a heck of a job writing this. Especially the incorrect stats and the “never only once” debacle.
What’s his relationship with Manny and/or Bryce?
Lovers
Never only once?
I was about to ask the same thing.
But where will Harper eventually never always end up?
Has never only once? Seriously? Who proofreads this stuff?
Not only stupid money, but stupid signing!! W2G Klentek!
Ahh, the minor league basher finally shows them self
Butera is organizational depth if he sticks around. We aren’t exactly stacked at catcher.
Hasn’t he hit 19 home runs not 5?
He has hit 19 home runs only five triples which is probably the stat he was looking at. I think Jeff should be fired because he’s obviously drinking on the job
Hidden code here that Harper is close to signing. Phils sign Butera, Butera stars with a B, so does Bryce. Bryce signs with the padres…
Phillies sign Drew Butera, leaving an “M” available for printing “Machado” on a jersey.
I’d much rather them trade for Francisco Cervelli.
This will put butts in the seats
Tony? Is that you?
early opt-out here he comes
Check out the stats of his dad Sal. Both ended up with a WS ring, too.
Never only once?
What the heck is that?
His belly is a little Robust just sayin
Have any of you baseball experts made it to the major leagues ??
I’m sure the answer is NO, so get off my cousins case. The guy has made it to the show and a 9 year veteran.?Who cares what his BA is or how many AB’s he gets, he’s better that you experts, you couldn’t even carry his jock !!
So what does that mean? We’re not supposed to criticize players making good and not producing?
BoSox, where were you? Butera is the guy you needed to fill out the catching corps.