The Kansas City Royals and first baseman Billy Butler have agreed yesterday to a four-year extension worth $30 million with a club option for a fifth season (2015), per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
With the extension, the Royals avoided arbitration with Butler and keep him from becoming a free agent after the 2013 season.
“It’s personable here, man,” Butler said. “You can’t go anywhere and have fans (act) like the fans here. They love the Royals.”
Butler, who is only 24 years old, has hit over .300 in each of his past two seasons. Although he has only 36 home runs in 1203 at bats over those two seasons, he has 96 doubles during the same span.
“We have a lot of young players that you’re going to start seeing this year,” he said. “You don’t get ranked the No. 1 minor-league system for nothing.”
That said, Bodog has the Royals in their typical spot as the biggest underdog (tied with the Pirates) to win the 2011 World Series at 150-1.
