A few years ago Billy Butler was snubbed in the Home Run Derby. Things have changed since that time with Butler looking nothing like the player he was in 2012.
This year the 28-year-old Butler is hitting just .273/.325/.355 with three home runs and 36 RBI in 93 games.
While the Kansas City Royals are considering adding pieces to their team ahead of the trade deadline, Butler may be one of the pieces they remove.
One team which has at-least talked to the Royals about Butler is the Settle Mariners according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.
#Mariners casting a wide net in search of a bat. They've even talked to #royals about Billy Butler (he of the .355 SLG%)
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 15, 2014
Anyone who is willing to take on Butler will be doing so at a discount. His contract for next season calls for him to make $12.5 million with a $1 million buyout. His salary for this season is $8 million meaning someone will have to pick up the remaining dollars.
The Mariners had previously been linked to Marlon Byrd. It is possible that the team adds both (or neither) ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
