Ali Solis signs minor league deal with Dodgers with spring invitation, per report

It appears that catcher Ali Solis has signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers that includes a non-roster invitation to big league spring training, per Bambino Sedano of Puro Beisbol.

Dodgers pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch on Thursday, Feb. 19, with the first workout one day later. The team usually has somewhere in the neighborhood of six catchers to start camp, easing the burden with so many pitchers so early in camp.

The Dodgers have three catchers on the 40-man roster — Yasmani Grandal, A.J. Ellis and Austin Barnes.

Solis, 27, hit .203/.231/.283 with 13 extra-base hits in 73 games for Triple-A Durham in 2014, with a lopsided 75 strikeouts against only six walks in 267 plate appearances. Solis is reportedly known for his defense and well, he'd have to be.

He has thrown out 34 percent of runners trying to steal in his minor league career, including 29.5 percent (18 of 61) in 2014 with Durham. Solis was also rated highly in framing, ranked one of the top five catchers in the minors at framing pitches in 2012.

"[Solis] lacks offensive skills, as scouts see neither pop in his lumber nor a good approach, but he has a very quick release when attempting to gun down baserunners," Max Marchi wrote at Baseball Prospectus in June 2013. "Scouts also regard him as decent at calling a game, which might be marked as another point of agreement between their point of view and that of statistical analysis."

In November 2013, R.J. Anderson at Baseball Prospectus noted of Solis, "I also asked a pro scout for his thoughts. 'He’s a legitimately good receiver,' the scout said. 'Can’t hit.' Sounds like Solis has reached the right organization."

That was when Solis signed a minor league deal with the Rays.

Solis made the majors in 2012 with the Padres and in 2014 with the Rays, so Dodgers executives Josh Byrnes and Andrew Friedman, respectively, are familiar with his work. Solis in his two major league stints played a total of 13 games, including 10 behind the plate (and four starts). He is a combined 0-for-10 with six strikeouts and one suicide squeeze bunt.

Solis is currently playing for Tomateros de Culiacan in the Mexican Pacific League, where he is hitting .197/.266/.274 with three home runs in 48 games.

To date, no non-roster invitations have been officially announced by the Dodgers, though it was reported that infielder Buck Britton, formerly of the Orioles, inked a minor league deal in November and will open in big league camp with Los Angeles.

The Dodgers did re-sign infielder Daniel Mayora, 29, to a minor league deal, though he confirmed it did not include an invitation to big league camp. Mayora hit .302/.356/.428 with 27 doubles and nine home runs for Double-A Chattanooga in 2014, playing 119 games at third base, eight games at second base and three at first base.