Billy Butler has been mentioned in multiple trade rumors recently, in part because he’s played poorly enough this season that picking up next year’s $12.5 million team option no longer seems like a no-brainer.
Today the 28-year-old designated hitter told Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star that he doesn’t want to be traded and he really hopes the Royals exercise that 2015 option to keep him around beyond this season.
Butler was once among the best young hitters in baseball, but his power never really developed past the 20-homer range. He suggested that the Royals should overlook his poor first half and consider his more impressive track record, but the problem is that his OPS has gone from .882 in 2012 to .787 in 2013 to .679 this year. For a guy with zero defensive value that simply doesn’t cut it, which is why the Royals are apparently open to trading him even if the likely return isn’t anything special.
