Royals decline option on Butler

Nov 1, 2014 - 5:42 PM Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - The Kansas City Royals have declined the option on the contract of Billy Butler, making the designated hitter a free agent.

Butler has spent his entire eight-year career with the Royals and went through the difficult times with the club before this season's surprising run to the American League pennant. He was 11-for-42 in the postseason, which ended with a Game 7 loss to San Francisco in the World Series.

The 28-year-old veteran hit just nine home runs in 2014 and drove in 66 runs while batting .271. He had reached double figures in homers each of the previous six seasons with a career-high 29 in 2012.

Butler was an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner in 2012, as he also knocked in a career-best 107 runs and batted .313.

In 1,166 games, Butler has 127 homers and 628 RBI with a .295 batting average.