After breakout season, Butler sets lofty goals for '25 and beyond
Mart¨ªn Gallegos
@MartinJGallegosMESA, Ariz. ¨C During a press conference to announce his own contract extension earlier this week, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay subtly hinted at another deal the club might be working on, when pressed by a familiar source on the matter.
That would be Lawrence Butler. Seated in the first row along with the rest of the media contingent for the press conference at the Lew Wolff Training Complex, the A¡¯s outfielder requested the first question, introduced himself as ¡°Lawrence Butler from the Players¡¯ Radio¡± and asked Kotsay how it feels to be managing a young team with so much talent.
The question elicited a huge laughter from Kotsay, who then looked directly at Butler with a smile while answering.
¡°Well, Lawrence, I do believe that we¡¯ve been engaged in conversations about keeping that talent,¡± Kotsay said. ¡°I look forward to that commitment to this talented group for the next several years.¡±
The A¡¯s might indeed be looking to commit to Butler for the long haul. A source told MLB.com¡¯s Mark Feinsand on Wednesday night that the two sides have been in communication regarding an extension, though it is unclear how far along those conversations are, or how soon a deal could come together.
Butler, 24, will not hit free agency until 2029. He isn¡¯t even eligible for arbitration until the end of the '26 season. But considering his monster run to end last year ¨C Butler slashed .302/.346/.597 (.943 OPS) with 20 home runs, 18 doubles, two triples, 49 RBIs and 14 stolen bases over his final 73 games ¨C he fits the bill of a player the club would like to lock up and build around entering this new era of A¡¯s baseball at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento for the next three seasons before a planned move to Las Vegas in 2028.
Butler did not want to comment on any specifics about those negotiations, though he made it clear where he stands on a potential long-term contract with the A¡¯s.
¡°It would mean everything to me,¡± Butler said. ¡°I love the A¡¯s. They¡¯re the team that gave me an opportunity as a young 17-year-old out of high school. I¡¯m grateful for that opportunity and I¡¯ve developed some of my best friendships here. For me to play here for [several more] years, it¡¯ll mean a lot to me.
¡°At the end of my career, I would love to have my jersey retired here and be talked about like Dave Stewart and Rickey Henderson. That would be amazing.¡±
Aspiring to reach those heights of such A¡¯s royalty is ambitious, which falls in line with Butler¡¯s supreme confidence in himself. He¡¯s already revealed being selected for the 2025 All-Star Game in his hometown of Atlanta as one of his goals for this season.
To achieve that objective, Butler will need to translate that second-half surge into the first half of the 2025 season, which will not be easy knowing that opposing pitchers will likely have more data on how to adjust and exploit his weaknesses. Luckily, for Butler, he has a teammate in Brent Rooker who successfully navigated a similar scenario by following up a breakout All-Star 2023 campaign with an even better overall season in 2024 that landed him a five-year contract extension this offseason.
¡°I¡¯m talking with Brent a lot,¡± Butler said. ¡°It¡¯s a constant adjustment game. ¡ I already know pitchers are not going to do the same things they were doing to me last year. They probably have a little more information on me and more video on me. I just have to go in there and figure it out.¡±
Hitting is not the only aspect of his game Butler wants to be known for. Unsatisfied with his defensive play in right field last season, Butler spent a good part of his offseason focusing on improving as an outfielder.
¡°That was the number one priority,¡± Butler said. ¡°I feel like I can have a better offensive year this year and be a better baserunner. But defense was a huge emphasis for me. ¡ I¡¯m coming in here trying to win a Gold Glove this year.¡±
Butler settled into the leadoff spot for the A¡¯s at the end of last season. It¡¯s a role he relishes continuing in 2025 for a chance to be the ignitor to a team whose serious playoff-contending goals could largely hinge on an offense expected to have no shortage of firepower with hitters such as himself, Rooker, Shea Langeliers, JJ Bleday, Zack Gelof and No. 1 prospect Jacob Wilson.
¡°We¡¯re going to be nasty,¡± Butler said. ¡°We¡¯re going to make it harder on opposing teams¡¯ pitchers knowing that, regardless of who comes to the plate, they have the capability of doing damage or just putting up a good at-bat to get the job done.¡±