Pregame notes: Five weeks after A-Rod, Butler takes platoon DH role

The New York Yankees need all the help they can get in order to reach the playoffs, and they’re turning to Billy Butler for some of that help. FOX’s Ken Rosenthal says the Yankees will use Butler against lefties.

The deal comes on the heels of the Yankees announcing that Aaron Judge will miss the remainder of the regular season with a Grade 2 right oblique strain. In the second year of a three-year deal, the A’s released Butler after a second straight disappointing season.

In 85 games this year, Butler hit.276 with a.331 on-base percentage, a.403 slugging percentage, four home runs and 31 RBIs.

In between Rodriguez and Butler, the Yankees started six different players at designated hitter, but only three of them started at DH a couple of times in those five weeks.

NY (77-68) is four games behind the first-place Red Sox (81-64) in the American League East heading into a four-game series at Boston that begins Thursday.

“It doesn’t happen very often, I can tell you that”, Girardi said. He put up a.262/.319/.369 (86 OPS+) against southpaws this season, so obviously the Yankees are hoping Butler hits closer to his career.299/.381/.491 (119 OPS+) line against lefties. “I enjoyed the heck out of being around him”.

“Over his career, he’s been successful against left-handers, and we’re seeing three (in Boston), and I think one or two in Tampa”, Girardi said.

MLB Trade Rumors also added the Yankees will owe Butler the pro-rated portion of the Major League minimum, which is estimated to be approximately $50K. Last year, Butler’s splits were even worse – he batted just.200 vs. left-handers and.269 vs. righties. “But for me, I enjoyed being around him and I’m glad he’s here”.