Billy Butler Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star First Baseman

Billy Butler was a key contributor to the Kansas City Royals' magical run to the World Series this season, but the star first baseman has decided to leave Kansas City for the Oakland Athletics on a three-year deal.

Continue for Updates.

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Butler to Sign With Oakland

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports the latest on Butler:

A's Interested in Butler

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports on one American League team that is interested in Billy Butler:

Saturday, Nov. 1

Royals Decline Option on Butler as 1B Becomes Free Agent

According to the Royals' official Twitter account, the team opted to decline Butler's option for the upcoming season:

That means the 28-year-old designated hitter and sometimes first baseman is now a free agent. Despite his new-found independence, the big slugger has no desire to play elsewhere, per Andy McCullough of The Kansas City Star:

McCullough provides more details, as well as comments from Butler:

McCullough also reported that the Royals would like to keep Butler, but not at his current rate:

Butler has spent his entire eight-year MLB career with the Royals, and he has arguably developed into the face of the franchise during that time.

Since posting a career-best season in 2012 that saw him hit .313 with 29 home runs and 107 RBI, the one-time All-Star has experienced a drop-off in play. This past season was his worst from a statistical perspective, as he hit just .271 with nine homers and 66 RBI.

Butler maintained a .262 batting average with eight RBI during the Royals' miraculous playoff run, but manager Ned Yost opted to sit him rather than find a spot for him in the field when Kansas City faced the San Francisco Giants on the road.

Butler was once viewed as an RBI machine and he never hit worse than .289 over the course of a season from 2009 through 2013. If he isn't producing at the plate, though, he doesn't have a ton of value due to his nonexistent fielding ability.

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