Athletics GM: It was time to turn the page with Butler

The Oakland Athletics cut ties with Billy Butler on Sunday following a disappointing two-year tenure that featured little production from the plate and a clubhouse fight with teammate Danny Valencia.

"Obviously, he didn't perform last year up to what we expected and coming into this year, it was tough for him to get going," A's general manager David Forst told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. "We made some moves that took away some of his opportunities. ... He obviously still has the ability. It just wasn't going to be a fit here.

"With three weeks left, it was a good time to turn the page."

After agreeing to a three-year, $30-million deal in 2014, Butler went on to hit .258/.325/.394 with 19 home runs in 236 games with Oakland. The Athletics will be forced to pay Butler the remaining $11.22 million on his deal.

"I knew it was a possibility because I wasn't playing and it's been like that all year," Butler said. "It's been like that all year and they’re the ones who make the decisions."

Things went from bad to worse last month for Butler when he was involved in a clubhouse altercation with Valencia that landed him on the disabled list with a concussion.

Forst said that the fight had no bearing on the Athletics' decision to part ways with Butler, however sources tell Slusser that Valencia is also likely to be let go before the end of the season.

Valencia is signed through the 2016 season and eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. He's hitting .289/.346/.458 with 16 home runs and 19 doubles in 113 games.