"Butler played through a right knee injury late in the 2025 season. He underwent postseason patellar tendon surgery but has maintained confidence he'll be ready for Opening Day. Butler has been able to take hitting drills throughout camp. He'd been held out of game action until this week to avoid running at full speed."
"Butler is coming off a .234/.306/.404 showing across 630 plate appearances. He had a 20-20 campaign and hit 30 doubles, but his rate metrics were around league average. Although it wasn't a bad season, it was a step back from the huge 2024 second half that established him as a core piece. Playing through the injury probably had something to do with that."
"He'll man right alongside Tyler Soderstrom and Denzel Clarke in Mark Kotsay's outfield. Butler fits best in a corner but has the athleticism to play center if Clarke's strikeout concerns outweigh his defensive excellence."
Lawrence Butler, Oakland A's outfielder, begins Spring Training competition after undergoing postseason patellar tendon surgery on his right knee. He will serve as designated hitter in his first game against the White Sox, with potential outfield work coming Thursday against the Mariners. Butler played through the knee injury during the 2024 season, experiencing performance decline in the second half. He batted .234/.306/.404 across 630 plate appearances with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. The A's plan to give Butler 15-20 exhibition at-bats across six remaining Spring Training games to ensure full readiness for Opening Day against Toronto.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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