Dodgers Rumors: Drew Butera To Be Backup Catcher Over Federowicz?
As the Los Angeles Dodgers prepare for their Opening Series games in Sydney, Australia, roster decisions loom. It looks as if Dee Gordon will be the starting second baseman while Alex Guerrero will spend some time in the minor leagues to continue to learn the position.
However, there still seems to be a battle for the backup catcher spot and Drew Butera might have the edge over incumbent Tim Federowicz. According to Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com, Butera being out of options might be the reason he sticks with the big league club out of Spring Training:
The likely move is to option Federowicz, keep Butera as the backup, and fill the last roster spot with Cuban rookie infielder Alex Guerrero. Of the three apparent extra position players on the trip (Miguel Rojas and Joc Pederson are the others), Guerrero is the only one already on the Major League roster.
Butera was the lone acquisition by the Dodgers at the trade deadline last summer while Federowicz along with Stephen Fife were acquired in a three-way trade with the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox. Both made the trip to Australia as Miguel Olivo was reassigned, but a decision about who starts the year in LA has yet to be made.
While Spring Training stats don’t matter, both catchers aren’t known for their offense though Butera did hit a home run. Both catchers are sound defensively as Federowicz was typically Ricky Nolasoco’s personal catcher for a brief period last season. Federowicz grounded into more double plays than he had hits as he hasn’t proven he can hit at the big league level.
It’ll be interesting to see what the ultimate decision is, but it sounds like Butera might be the choice due to him being out of options.
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