Royals DFA Kratz; Butera will be backup C

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals have made a decision on their backup catcher.

Thursday morning, the team announced that catcher Erik Kratz, who went on the disabled list with a foot injury on May 6, was reinstated and then was designated for assignment, consequently keeping Drew Butera as the backup catcher.

"Butera has a tremendous arm with great accuracy," manager Ned Yost said. "Kratz has a very good arm with good accuracy. Both are very good behind the plate.

"If I were to handicap both of them, I would say Butera is the better defensive player and Kratz is the better offensive player."

Kratz is currently out of options, as is Butera, which had left a decision hanging over the heads of the Royals' staff for weeks.

Kratz hit .214 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 15 games while on an injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha.

Butera, who was acquired from the Angels in a trade for Minor League Ryan Jackson on May 7, has batted just .167 (2-for-15) with one RBI in 17 games this season, but he possesses the superior defense Yost appreciates.

The Royals now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.