Last week at the GM meetings there reportedly was a three-year, $30 million offer on the table for free-agent DH/first baseman Billy Butler. Nobody knew who that team was until Butler signed with the Oakland A's on Tuesday night. The Chicago White Sox made a free-agent addition of their own.
Shortly after the Kansas City Royals lost Game 7 of the World Series, the team declined Butler's $12.5 million option for 2015. He was bought out for $1 million and the team was focused on trying to re-sign him, however, the Oakland Athletics persuaded him with a three-year, $30 million contract. The Royals likely couldn't match the deal because they have other pressing needs to fill on their roster.
The 28-year-old Butler has spent his eight-year career with Kansas City, including his All-Star campaign in 2012 during which he slashed .313/.373/.510 with 29 home runs and 107 RBIs. He had a down year in 2014, but his career numbers are still strong and he'll only be turning 29 next season. Butler's career .295/.359/.449 stat line with 127 home runs and 628 RBIs attracted the Athletics enough to offer him a contract typically outside their comfort zone.
While the A's have bolstered their offense, the Chicago White Sox added a left arm to their bullpen. The team announced a three-year, $15 million contract for left-hander Zach Duke on Tuesday. Duke was one of the coveted free-agent left-handed relievers this offseason to go along with Andrew Miller (who is expected to become a closer), Tom Gorzelanny, Neal Cotts and Phil Coke. The lefty will now join one of the league's worst bullpens (their 4.38 ERA ranked 28th in the MLB) in hopes of improving them in 2015.
Duke originally came into the league as a starter with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2005. That year he amassed an 8-2 record with a 1.81 ERA in 14 starts as a 22-year-old, but never saw success again until he was moved to the bullpen. He joined the Washington Nationals in 2012 and that's when his resurgence began. He spent most of the year in the minors and then maintained a 1.32 ERA in 13 2/3 innings before enduring a tough 2013 season that resulted in his release. He spent this season with the Milwaukee Brewers and went 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings.
Butler and Duke are both notable free agent signings, but stay tuned because there are many more players out there that are poised to make a splash this offseason.
