Kansas City Royals Open To Re-Signing Billy Butler

The Kansas City Royals remain open to re-signing designated hitter Billy Butler despite allowing him to become an MLB free agent.

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Although the Kansas City Royals decided to decline their $12 million dollar team option on designated hitter Billy Butler, that doesn’t mean they’re ready to completely cut ties with the veteran.

Butler, who made his Major League debut in 2007 has been with the franchise since that time and was the longest tenured Royals player on the roster. Still there was simply no way the Royals could afford to pay Butler his $12 million dollar salary nor was he deserving of such a contract.

Still Kansas City refuses to shut the door on a possible return.

“We’re going to stay engaged,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore stated. “We’ve got to look for the opportunity to bring Billy back as part of our team. But not at one year, $12 million, obviously.”

Moore added, “Like any negotiations, there’s going to be ups and downs and twists and turns.”

For what it’s worth, Billy Butler has stated that he’d like to return to the Kansas City Royals and wants everything to work out.

“Hopefully the numbers work out,” Butler suggested. “Hopefully another team doesn’t come in and blow me out of the water with an offer. I guess that’s the spirit of them declining it, and other teams being in play. But I’m definitely a Royal at heart.”

While Billy Butler has an impressive track record offensively, he’s nothing more than a designated hitter given his defensive shortcomings and was sub par with the stick this year. Combine both factors and you have to wonder if the Kansas City Royals couldn’t spend their money better elsewhere.

If he wants to come back on a very team friendly deal, that seems like a possibility but if Butler is looking to cash in he may have a rough offseason.

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