The Boston Red Sox designated catcher Dan Butler for assignment this week to make room on the 40-man roster for reliever Craig Breslow. The 28-year-old backstop hardly sounds discouraged.
Butler, who made his major league debut last season at age 27, realizes the Red Sox’s decision actually could be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps a team needing a catcher will take a flier on Butler and offer him a clearer path to the majors than the one he currently faces in the Sox organization.
“It just creates an opportunity and gives me a chance to see if any other teams are interested and kind of see what happens,” Butler told WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford this week from his home in Arizona. “If nothing happens, the worst-case scenario is you’re back with the Red Sox in the minor league system, and that’s worked out with me pretty well so far.”
The Red Sox already have catchers Christian Vazquez and Ryan Hanigan penciled into their major league plans for 2015, again leaving Butler on the outside looking in. It’s been a familiar situation for Butler, who signed with Boston as an undrafted free agent in 2009, but the University of Arizona product’s confidence hasn’t wavered. Nor has his appreciation for the Red Sox’s willingness to bring him aboard.
“I feel like there are probably teams interested. There’s not a lot of catchers out there. You always hear people are looking for catchers. I’m assuming that’s why they were hesitant to do this,” Butler told Bradford. “It might create a different type of possibility for me to maybe continue on with another team. But, again, worst-case scenario you’re back with the Red Sox, and that’s not a bad thing.”
Butler appeared in seven games with the Red Sox in 2014 after spending parts of six seasons in the minors. He’s long been a depth option, spending much of 2013 and 2014 at Triple-A Pawtucket, and he’s now the victim of a roster crunch. But if Butler parts ways with the organization that gave him a shot to pursue a professional career — the Red Sox have 10 days (as of Wednesday) to trade the catcher or place him on waivers — it certainly will be an amicable breakup.
“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing for, as long as you get the opportunity to play in the big leagues,” Butler said. “It creates a huge opportunity for me to go to a team, whether they traded for me or if I went through the waiver process. That means that team wants you, so that’s always a good feeling, too.”
Butler has been patient for six years. His mindset hasn’t changed despite this week’s developments.
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Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
