Drew Butera, Jose Mijares, and Alejandro Machado
By Wally Fish
Tuesday the Twins optioned C-Drew Butera and LHP-Jose Mijares to Triple-A Rochester. They also reassigned IF-Alejandro Machado to minor league camp.
Drew Butera (8/9/83) BA: NR / SS: NR
The son of former major league catcher Sal Butera, Drew came to the Twins in the Luis Castillo trade in the summer of 2007. A defensive catcher, Butera surprisingly hit .385/.438/.462 in his 13 spring at bats. He spent 2008 with Double-A New Britain where he hit .219/.308/.354 in 302 at bats. Also of note, Drew is the son of former big league catcher Sal Butera who had a couple of stints with the Twins. Butera being optioned to Triple-A means that Jose Morales will make the team as the backup catcher to Mike Redmond until Joe Mauer is healthy. Drew figures to have a decent major league career as a backup catcher. His chance could come as early as this season if Morales struggles and Mauer is out for a significant amount of time.
Jose Mijares (10/29/84) BA: #4 / SS: #22
After his performance at the end of last season with the Twins, Mijares came into camp as a near lock to make the staff. 10.0 spring innings later he is on his way to Triple-A after posting a 9.90 ERA. He allowed 18 hits, 9 walks and only struck out 7. Conditioning and control have been the two biggest hurdles in his brief career, and this spring it looks like both of them have won the battle against Jose. Hopefully he gets back in shape and back on track so he can help the Twins bullpen this year.
Alejandro Machado (4/26/82)
Machado was a non-roster invitee to spring training. In 21 spring at bats he hit .143/.208/.190 and had little chance to make the major league club regardless of what he did.