Royals deal Butera to Rockies for prospect

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals traded backup catcher Drew Butera to Colorado on Friday, receiving left-hander Jerry Vasto in return.
Vasto, 26, was immediately optioned to Triple-A Omaha.
And for Butera, a pending free agent, his legacy in Kansas City will no doubt include his famous plate appearance in Game 4 of the 2015 American League Divisional Series when he drew a walk off Astros closer Luke Gregerson during the Royals' five-run rally in the eighth inning. The Royals, facing elimination, overcame a 6-2 deficit and forced a fifth game, which they won en route to an eventual World Series title.
Butera, 35, came into the game as a replacement for Salvador Perez, whom manager Ned Yost had pinch-run for the inning before. Butera battled Gregerson for 10 pitches before drawing a walk to load the bases with one out. Alex Gordon followed with the go-ahead groundout.
Yost remembered it as one of the key moments of the 2015 playoff run.
"If you talk to [Astros manager A.J.] Hinch, that was the pivotal [plate appearance] of that game," Yost said. "They brought in their closer to try to stop it right there. And Drew kept the inning going and got Alex to the plate."

Butera, who also caught the final pitch and out of the World Series in 2015, was in his fourth season with the Royals. He was hitting .188 this season with two home runs and 18 RBIs.
"We were brothers," Perez said. "We talked to each other today. We both cried."
Added Yost, "He was perfect for this team and knowing his role. He was perfect for Salvy. He was always ready to play when he was called upon. He was just the perfect backup catcher, especially for our situation. Hopefully he'll get over there to Colorado and help them."
Vasto, was 2-1 with a 3.16 ERA in 37 appearances for Colorado's Triple-A team in Albuquerque. He was originally a 24th-round selection by the Rockies in 2014.
The Royals also recalled catcher Cam Gallagher and reinstated outfielder Brian Goodwin off the disabled list Friday.

Perez has injured thumb
Perez was not in the starting lineup Friday because of a sprained left thumb. Perez said he suffered the injury on Tuesday while swinging the bat.
Yost said Perez's condition was day to day. But the Royals already have brought in Minor League catcher Meibrys Viloria as protection, and placed him on the taxi squad.
Viloria was hitting .260 with six home runs and 44 RBIs at Class A Wilmington. He will be part of the September callups on Saturday.