When the A’s signed Billy Butler before the 2014 season, it was something of a head scratcher. The cost-conscious team — which later that same winter dealt third baseman Josh Donaldson, citing his looming high price tag — committed three years and $30 million to Butler, a designated hitter.
For a club that valued versatility, the move seemed strange, and then Butler didn’t work out from the get-go, batting .258 with 19 homers and 96 RBIs over his nearly two seasons with Oakland.
On Sunday, the A’s released Butler, leaving them on the hook for the $11.