A’s Billy Butler: ‘I’ve got a lot left in the tank’
Butler was drafted out of high school in 2004 — the 14th overall pick — to hit, and that’s what he did most of his career with the Royals.
[...] in 2015 with the A’s, the first year of his three-year, $30 million contract, Butler’s numbers took a big hit, at least until September.
On Sunday, when asked how the 2016 A’s could be better, manager Bob Melvin and his players were quick to point out the upgraded bullpen and return of closer Sean Doolittle, whose new supporting cast includes Ryan Madson, John Axford, Liam Hendriks and Marc Rzepczynski.
The team’s most expensive player hit .238 with a .313 on-base percentage and .360 slugging percentage through August, with nine homers and 48 RBIs.
The A’s strongly recommended to Butler to emphasize fitness over the winter, though he’ll likely always remain hefty.
“The questions (on conditioning) don’t happen when you hit 30 home runs and 40 doubles,” Butler said.
Butler said he has been working daily this month with a personal trainer and afterward at the A’s complex in Mesa, Ariz., where he hits.
Mike Henriques, the A’s strength and conditioning coach, has been in contact with Butler’s trainer to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
Butler said he had left wrist soreness entering spring training last season and vows to be in top physical form at the start of spring training next month.