A’s release DH Butler, still owed $10 million next season

The Oakland Athletics released designated hitter Billy Butler on Sunday. Thus ends a odd and seemingly doomed relationship less than two years into a three-year, $30 million agreement. He entered free agency in 2014 coming off a.271/.323/.379 season with just nine home runs.

Oakland will be forced to eat the remaining 2016 salary, plus the $11.7 million he’s owed for the 2017 season. His power is way down with only four homers and a.127 isolated power, to go along with only 31 RBI’s.

“It was time to move on”, A’s general manager David Forst said.

Butler is a 10-year veteran who has hit.289/.354/.441 with 146 home runs in 10 major-league seasons with the Royals (2007-14) and Athletics (2015-16).

Butler’s deal with Oakland was a puzzling one when completed, and the former Royal hit just.258/.325/.394 with 19 home runs in 236 games with the A’s.

Last month he got into a fight with teammate Danny Valencia, an altercation in which most of the club sided with Valencia. Butler told reporters he was happy for the timing. The A’s fined both players for their roles, but Butler doesn’t believe that confrontation led to his release. It’s also possible he’ll wait until the offseason to gauge value.