Billy Butler is headed to the A's. (John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports)
In another big-money move by a traditionally low-payroll team, the Oakland Athletics agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with free agent designated hitter Billy Butler, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the sides were talking but the A’s might be awaiting medical reports before confirming a deal. The news comes in the same week that the low-spending Miami Marlins agreed to the largest deal in baseball history, a 13-year, $325 contract for right fielder Giancarlo Stanton.
Butler batted .333 for the Kansas City Royals in the World Series last month. He helped end Oakland’s season by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the American League wild-card game, which Kansas City won 9-8 in 12 innings against the A’s.
The 28-year-old became a free agent after the Royals declined a $12.5 million option for 2015, opting to pay a $1 million buyout.
Butler batted .271 with nine home runs and a career-low .702 on-base-plus-slugging percentage over 151 games this season.
In Oakland, the right-handed-hitting Butler could see action at first base and designated hitter. Veteran Adam Dunn retired after finishing the season as a left-handed platoon DH for the A’s. Oakland’s incumbent first basemen include utility man Alberto Callaspo as well as Nate Freiman and Kyle Blanks.
Over eight major league seasons with Kansas City, Butler has a .295 career average with a .359 on-base percentage, a .449 slugging percentage, 127 homers and 628 RBIs in 1,166 games. His lone All-Star appearance came in 2012, when he posted career highs with 29 homers, 107 RBIs and a .510 slugging percentage.
