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Athletics' Butler would be 'more than happy' to reunite with Royals in future

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Billy Butler's tenure with the Kansas City Royals ended in November when he signed a three-year, $30-million with the Oakland Athletics, but the 28-year-old would still relish the opportunity to reunite with his former club one day.

Though the Royals declined Butler's contract option for the 2015 campaign, the beloved designated hitter doesn't harbor any ill will towards the franchise that selected him with the 14th pick of the 2004 draft.

"It’s disappointing, but you understand that the game’s a business and I didn’t leave on bad terms," Butler told Tod Palmer of the Kansas City Star. "I’d be more than happy to come back. That’s home for me. I’ll always be forever tied to the Royals organization and the community there.

"The memories there are for a lifetime. I think, down the road, I’ll be back either as a coach or still playing, doing something — scouting or whatever it is — to help the organization that took a chance on me and drafted me."

Butler has logged more games in a Royals uniform than any other player since 2007, and the former All-Star said the reality of leaving the only organization he's ever know hasn't really sunk in.

"Right now, it doesn’t even feel like I’m with a different team yet, because we haven’t started yet," Butler said. "It will be different when spring training starts and I’m making the trip to Mesa, not Surprise like I’ve done basically, I feel like, my whole life now."

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