MLB Rumors: Billy Butler willing to renegotiate contract to remain in Kansas City

Billy Butler has been with the Kansas City Royals for 10 seasons. He posted significant production for them during some lean years for the franchise. In an odd twist of fate, Butler’s production has fizzled in recent seasons as the Royals have finally started to play well.

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That has created an awkward situation for the Royals when it comes to Butler’s contract. The team has a $12.5 million option to bring Butler back in 2015. But with Butler’s production down, especially his power numbers, that option seems far less palatable than it once did.

For a while the Royals were exploring the option of trading Butler. No interested teams have emerged, at least not yet, and so the Royals have turned to what their plan will be with Butler in Kansas City.

While the team certainly will not pick up Butler’s option, the big slugger known as ‘Country Breakfast’ believes that they should at least consider it. Why? As more of  a career accomplishment award, it would appear (quotes from the Kansas City Star):

"“My numbers throughout my contract suggest they should (pick it up),” Butler said. “Maybe not the way I’ve necessarily played this year, but that’s the reason you play a full 162 games. The evaluation is there. That’s the reason why you have a track record."

When the Royals don’t pick up Butler’s option, he says he is willing to renegotiate his contract to remain with the franchise.

"At 28, Butler continued, “my best years are still ahead of me,” and he insisted he would like to spend the rest of his career as a Royal. Which is why, if Kansas City does not intend to pick up the option, he said he would be willing to renegotiate an extension at a lower rate than $12.5 million per season.“I’ve been in the organization for 10 years, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. “I’d like stay here and win something. It’s not my decision.”"

Butler is a career .296/.361/.450 hitter. In 2014 he is batting .272/.324/.354. The bigger problem is the fact that he has only three home runs and 36 RBI. How well his power returns, if it returns, might go a long way towards deciding whether or not the Royals are interested in signing him beyond 2015.