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On Sunday, the Oakland A’s released DH Billy Butler. Hopefully the Bay Area can now take a deep breath.
After a less than stellar 2014 with the Royals, the A’s signed the 30 year old to a 3 year, 30 million dollar contract. His slash line didn’t improve with a change of scenery, and read 251/.323/.390 after the 2015 season. Oh, it gets better. Following a clubhouse altercation with third baseman Danny Valencia, Butler was placed on the DL with a concussion at the tail end of August. While this certainly didn’t help his case towards the A’s hanging on for that last year, Butler’s poor performance had already sealed his fate.
The A’s are going to cut the check for the $10 million owed to Butler in 2017.
More from around the American League West:
The Astros have swan dove into the 2016-2017 international free agency mark, signing Cuban left hand pitcher Cionel Perez. Perez, 20, had a promising 2014 in Cuba, going 7-2 with a 2.50 ERA in 20 games. He defected in 2015 and was declared a free agent last week.
A RHP, utility players, and a first baseman/DH fly into Seattle. No, this isn’t the opening line of a joke, it’s the Mariner’s recent call ups from Triple A Tacoma (not even touching that one.)
I know what you’re all thinking: Where is Tony Barnette? The RHP made his last appearance on September 4th and has been suffering from an oblique strain since.
The call up parade soldiers on: The A’s have called up Renato Nunez and Matt Olson. Olson will be replacing Butler’s spot on the 40 man.
The Angels were shut out by Taijuan Walker last night, 8-0. Walker was working with a no-no through six, only to be disrupted by a Kole Calhoun single in the 7th. Mike Trout struck out three times as the Halos came away with only three hits to their name.