Mesa, ARI – ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Outfielder Lawerence Butler and the Athletics are in an agreement on a contract extension. (Note: its a $65.5 million contract)
Butler follows Brent Rooker, who extended with the club earlier this offseason, to carry on a core with the Athletics organization for a long period of time. Passan also noted that the contract negotiations, which are pending a physical, have been ongoing for most of the offseason. The financial agreement is in the same area as the one Ezequiel Tovar signed with the Rockies last year.
This is a great thing for the game of Baseball. For starters, its always great to see players who were drafted and developed by an organization stick with them through thick and thin, like Salvador Perez or Mike Trout. It’s also great to see that the Athletics and John Fisher are finally investing money in trying to make the team better for the long term. From signing Severino to a franchise record 3 year, $67 million ($10 million bonus) contract in December, to extending Brent Rooker to a 5 year $60 million, and even extending Manager Mark Kotsay through 2028, these actions signal a shift in the organization’s approach. This investment demonstrates a commitment to building a competitive team, not just for the present, but for the future. This is important for the fans, who have been longing for a sign that the ownership is serious about winning.
