Free agent Billy Butler has agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with the Oakland Athletics, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney.

The Kansas City Royals previously paid Butler a $1 million buyout rather than exercise their $12.5 million option on his contract for the 2015 season, making him a free agent.

Butler, 28, hit .271 with nine home runs and 66 RBIs this past season, his seventh with the Royals.

Butler, an All-Star in 2012, helped Kansas City reach the postseason for the first time since 1985. He hit .262 with 8 RBIs in the Royals’ 13 postseason games.

Butler played first base in 37 games this past season, but was predominantly a designated hitter (108 games).

The career .295 hitter also won a Silver Slugger Award in 2012.

— ESPN.com News Services —