KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- When the Oakland Athletics open a four-game series on Monday night at Kansas City, they will be sans Billy Butler, who was released Sunday.Butler was a 2012 All-Star, hitting .313 with 29 home runs and 107 RBI that season with the Royals, who drafted him in the first round in 2004. Butler played with Kansas City from 2007 to 2014 and was the designated hitter on the team that won the 2014 American League championship.Butler became a free agent after the 2014 season and signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the As but hit a career low .251 last season. This year, he was relegated to mostly DH duty against left-handed pitchers.Butler had only a dozen at-bats since Aug. 17 and was in a 1-for-15 funk when released.I knew it was a possibility because I wasnt playing, Butler said. Its been like that all year. Theyre the ones that make the decision. I know that now that Cocos (Crisp, trade to Cleveland) gone, I was the highest paid player. Theyre not going to let guys making that much just sit around and not make a move eventually.Ive been in this game long enough to know that moves like these happen. Unfortunately, the last two seasons as a team it has not gone the way as expected. Your higher paid players end up taking the brunt of that because I was expected to come in to keep this organization where it was at.As general manager David Forst said this was the right time to move on without Butler.Its something weve discussed, Forst said. With a lot of the younger players here now, potentially more coming once Nashvilles done, the at-bats just werent there. Its time to move our focus beyond.Obviously, he didnt perform last year up to what we expect, and then coming into this year it was tough for him to ever get going. We made some moves this last offseason that took away from some of his opportunities this year. There were times, frankly, right before the incident with him and Danny (Valencia clubhouse fight) when he was swinging the bat well. He obviously still has ability. It just wasnt going to be a fit here.The As are 13-27 in their past 40 games and have dropped to a season-worst 22 games below .500 after a 3-2 loss Sunday to the Seattle Mariners. Overall, the As are 60-82, assuring them of a losing record in back-to-back years.Three other former Royals with the As are Brett Eibner, who had a RBI triple Sunday; Ryan Madson, a reliever who suffered the loss Sunday, and Valencia.The defending World Series champion Royals shut out the White Sox 2-0 on Sunday to complete a 4-2 trip to Chicago and Minnesota. They remain on the fringe of the wild-card race, but theyll need a great eight-game homestand against the As and White Sox to stay viable in the postseason hunt.The Royals Ned Yost is one victory shy of 1,000 in his managerial career.Win two series on the road, which was big, Yost said. Weve got to win series. Each win is crucial right now. It feels good when you match up against a guy like Chris Sale and end up on the winning side of it. Just keep grinding them out and keep winning ballgames.Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales homered for the only runs off Sale, but that was enough for Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy and the bullpen. Wade Davis logged his 24th save of the season.Definitely huge, Hosmer said to capture the series at Chicago. We needed this. We need every series from here on out, and every game is huge. Well head back home. We play good in Kansas City. Well see if we can take it a day at a time against Oakland and get things shaken up here at the end.Royals right-hander Dillon Gee will start the series opener, his 14th start and 30th outing of the season. He is 0-2 with a 6.39 ERA in three career outings, including two starts against Oakland.The As will start left-hander Ross Detwiler, who is 1/3 with a 5.06 ERA in five starts and one relief appearance since called up from Triple-A Nashville.Detwiler has faced the Royals once, on May 14, 2015, while with the Texas Rangers. He took the loss, allowing three runs, nine hits and one walk with three strikeouts in five innings. Wholesale Air VaporMax . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Air VaporMax Shoes Outlet . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. http://www.vapormaxcheap.com/ . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Cheap Air VaporMax Store . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Discount Air VaporMax Shoes . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies.The search for the next Dream Goal is well under way, with Budweiser on the hunt for the greatest amateur strikes from across the country. Jamie Redknapp, Jamie Carragher and Ed Chamberlin kicked things off with Fernando Mokes stunning finish for Chapeltown Fforde Grene Football Club in Leeds, while Chris Lavery of Lurgan Celtic also got the Dream Goal treatment in February.Next up its the turn of Mike Butler from Hessle Sporting Club in East Yorkshire. Hes got the Premier League haircut and his half-volley nestled nicely in the top corner, but Carraghers not convinced. Submit your own strike if you think your Dream Goal is better than Mike Butlers I dont think it can be up there with the top goals because of the haircut, Carragher said. You cant have that.But Redknapp disagreed: I wouldnt tell him! Thats a great haircut, youve got every chance of winning this Mike. A beautiful strike.Budweiser Dream Goal challenges British amateur footballers to submit videos of their dream goals in the hope of winning the ultimate prize... to have their goal analysed on TV by football greats and star in Budweisers spring TV ad campaign supported by Sky Sports.The winner will also star in Budweisers TV ads, as well as taking home a £50k grant for the non-League club of their choosing. The five runners-up will take home a £10k grant, while the winner and runners-up will all be given one-off FA training sessions. Behind the scenes Check out our Q&A with Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp Entrants are free to submit their screamers via the new and improved Budweiser Dream Goal hub on www.ddddddddddddudweiser.co.uk, while Budweiser Dream Goal can also be found in the Sky Sports Football Score Centre App for the duration of the competition, where you can also submit your goal video. The winning goal will be chosen by Carragher, Redknapp and Chamberlin, and revealed on the last day of the season on May 15, featuring the goal and the pundits analysis. Jamie Redknapp and Jamie Carragher discuss their dream goals, jobs and celebrations. Full terms and conditions can be found at www.budweiser.co.uk/dreamgoal and further information can be found at www.youtube.com/budweiserUk and www.facebook.com/budweiseruk.The Budweiser Dream Goal competition is only open to people of 25 years of age and above, and closes on April 24 Also See: Behind the scenes Jamie Carragher Jamie Redknapp Arsenal need more goalscorers Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '