Heyman further specifies that Butler has signed a Major League contract with NY.
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The Yankees have reached an agreement to sign recently released Athletics designated hitter/first baseman Billy Butler, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports (via Twitter).
Butler, 30, was released by the A’s on Sunday.
Butler struggled with Oakland this season, slashing.276/.331/.403 with four home runs and 31 RBI in 85 games.
Butler was involved with teammate Danny Valencia in a clubhouse fight last month.
Butler wound up on the seven-day concussion disabled list, and shortly after he returned, the A’s cut him loose.
Slusser cited multiple sources who said Butler told an equipment representative that Valencia lied about using off-brand cleats only during pregame warm-ups and “allegedly told the representative that the company should drop Valencia’s endorsement deal”. He hit 15 homers for Oakland past year.
Butler spent his first eight seasons with the Royals before signing with Oakland as a free agent. In 1,402 games overall, he has a.289/.354/.441 batting line with 146 homers and 724 RBIs.
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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. The addition of Butler is a curious one, though the Yanks likely see him as an offensive upgrade for a club just two games out of a Wild Card spot.
