DH/1B Billy Butler was released before Sunday's game against Seattle. Oakland signed Butler to a three-year, $30 million free-agent contract on Nov. 19, 2014, but he hit just .258 with 19 home runs and 96 RBIs in 236 games. Butler appeared in only 85 games this season and had started only one time in the previous five games. "It's uncomfortable for a guy like him to sit on the bench," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "His at-bats were drying up. It was just time to move on. He wasn't going to be in the plans for next year." Butler said he looked at his release as a chance to make a fresh start. I'm just trying to look for a situation that's the best for me and my family," Butler said. "That being said, I know there's an opportunity out there. I don't know where it's at because this is fresh and it just happened. I have no clue when that will be. I imagine it will be in the offseason." Butler hit .251 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs in 151 games last season. This year he hit .276 with four home runs and 31 RBIs in just 221 at-bats. He struggled to adjust to a part-time role this season. "Last year it wasn't a horrible season but it wasn't a great season either," Butler said. "It was definitely below what my expectations of myself are that have been displayed throughout my career. This season it's hard to even judge that because I haven't even had many opportunities to play. When I did I thought I helped the team. I thought I helped the team whenever I got in there, especially with the role that I was given. It was very tough. I realize what platoon guys and part-time players go through now." Butler was involved in a clubhouse fight with OF/INF Danny Valencia last month and suffered a concussion. But Butler, Melvin and general manager David Forst said that incident, which resulted for both players, had nothing to do with Butler's release. "I don't think it played into it at all," Butler said. "If that situation would have been the reason, it would have happened before