Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball tweeted the news Wednesday night:
The Oakland’s A’s released Butler despite more than $11.22 million remaining on the three-year, $30 million contract he signed before the 2015 season. Butler slashed a mere .258/.325/.394 in two seasons with Oakland after hitting .295/.359/.449 with the Kansas City Royals between 2007-14. Butler was hitting .276/.331/.403 with 16 doubles and 4 home runs with the A’s when they released him four days ago.
The Yankees signed Butler after rookie Austin Judge suffered a grade 2 oblique (side) strain, forcing New York to put him on the 15-day disabled list.