Twins Sign C Eric Fryer to Minor League Contract

The Twins confirmed that the Twins have signed catcher Eric Fryer to a minor league contract.

Hey, they had great luck signing a former Pirates catcher last offseason, so now they're trying it again. Fryer got four at bats for the Pirates in 2012 after going 7-26 for the Bucs a year earlier.

Last year in Indianapolis, he hit .204/.257/.247 in just 65 games (176 PA). He has seven doubles.

He has a .770 career minor league OPS, but has not hit at all above AA.

Can't be any worse than Rene Rivera, I guess!

But. can he pitch?

Buetera's sweating already.

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Originally Posted by nicksaviking

Buetera's sweating already.

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should be fryer can also play the outfield so i hear

Fryer's been old for every level where he has had success. The time he had success in AA was only about 130+ PAs, so even that should be taken with a grain of salt. The Butera comp isn't a bad one when you consider he's hit .204 in AAA. (Was he hurt or something? 319 PA in 1.5 years in AAA?)

The one thing I noticed different about his stat line is that he doesn't strikeout too much, or at lease has a decent K/BB ratio. That seems odd for a .204 hitter. If the Twins signed him, it means they had someone on their scouting vouch for him. Maybe they see something the stats don't.

He's a backup AAA catcher... he and Danny Lehmann will likely g to spring training to determine who gets to back up Chris Herrmann in Rochester. The other one can back up Josmil Pinto and Dan Rohlfing in AA.

Of course, this signing means that Drew Butera has sewn up a 25 man roster spot with MN

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Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

He's a backup AAA catcher... he and Danny Lehmann will likely g to spring training to determine who gets to back up Chris Herrmann in Rochester. The other one can back up Josmil Pinto and Dan Rohlfing in AA.

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Butera should back up Herrmann in Rochester.
Another ridiculous signing (similar to signing Roof's kid last season) that makes no sense at all, unless the Twins are getting rid of Butera. And then, there are better in house options..

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Originally Posted by thrylos98

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Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

He's a backup AAA catcher... he and Danny Lehmann will likely g to spring training to determine who gets to back up Chris Herrmann in Rochester. The other one can back up Josmil Pinto and Dan Rohlfing in AA.

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Butera should back up Herrmann in Rochester.
Another ridiculous signing (similar to signing Roof's kid last season) that makes no sense at all, unless the Twins are getting rid of Butera. And then, there are better in house options..

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I 100% agree with Seth's assesment. There is no shot that Drew starts in minors.....he's' arbitrtion eligible also & will get about 800K (wont pay that to a AAA guy if they dont have too).

This signing doesn't mean anything. They're giving themselves a bit more minor league depth. That's it. Doesn't have anything to do with Butera.