Billy Butler signs with A's

[aarne13]

3yr deal $30MM. $5MM signing bonus

[WCTYSON]

3yr deal $30MM. $5MM signing bonus

Seems like a lot for a one dimensional player coming off a down year. When his bat goes cold he is a liability, as he is not able to contribute in any other way.

[AnthonyCorona]

The A's, the team that never signs anyone comes up with the lame signing? I guess that's the answer to the Cespedes trade?

[Topnotchsy]

Historically a high OBP guy, natural fit for the A's.

[AnthonyCorona]

It looks like the A's would give up on the whole money ball thing. It's produced nothing but heart break

[Sig40cal]

Not a fan, but whatever floats your boat Billy Beene.

[moxacaine]

its an upgrade from adam dunn.

[CatdaddysCards]

Well Fug. Guess I have a lot of Billy Butler stuff to sell. Was really hoping he'd come back to KC. Guess it's time to start the Cheslor Cuthbert era.

[eltoro2012]

I'm a big Royals fan and I just decided to focus in on collecting Billy Butler. I've always been a big fan so I will probably continue collecting him though. It will just be weird seeing him in anything but a Royals jersey.

[WaxPax]

I think this is a solid signing, all things considered. Butler is only 28, and although he is limited to being a DH, his AAV is only 10M per season. It's not like he's a broken down 35 yr old, and you're committing 3 years to, besides BB will probably trade him off well before the end of this deal.....

[sheetskout]

What hitter actually wants to play 81 games in that park? (The same thing kind of goes for the Padres)

[WCTYSON]

What hitter actually wants to play 81 games in that park? (The same thing kind of goes for the Padres)

I thought of that as well but here is a list of Park Factors for 2014. Obviously this list does not address numerous issues as factors but:

https://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor

[sheetskout]

I thought of that as well but here is a list of Park Factors for 2014. Obviously this list does not address numerous issues as factors but:

https://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor

Yeah, we debate that list every season. The problem with it is that offenses are contributing to those stats without a control. Meaning a good offense skews the numbers as compared to the rest of the league.

[WCTYSON]

Yeah, we debate that list every season. The problem with it is that offenses are contributing to those stats without a control. Meaning a good offense skews the numbers as compared to the rest of the league.

No doubt, agreed. The A's were a top 1/3 offensive team last season, thus playing 81 games there certainly is a large factor in the numbers. Whereas, the Royals were a middle of the pack offensive team. Butler is not a power hitter in this portion of his career though, so hitting slash singles the park will not be much of a factor in his numbers.

[Austin]

Well Fug. Guess I have a lot of Billy Butler stuff to sell. Was really hoping he'd come back to KC. Guess it's time to start the Cheslor Cuthbert era.

Why would you sell your Butler collection? I don't get this way of team collecting, unless you're pissed at Butler.The odds are that Gordon, Mous, Hosmer, etc. will eventually leave the team in a few years too, as it's extremely rare for a player to stay with one team his entire career, like George Brett.Do you only collect current Royals? (Nothing wrong with that. Just wondering.)