Billy Butler And Danny Valencia Receive Fines For Clubhouse Brawl

Oakland A’s teammates Billy Butler and Danny Valencia got into a fight on Friday in the A’s clubhouse that has resulted in both players receiving a fine. The fight was so bad that Butler was put on the seven-day concussion disabled list after Valencia punched in him the head. The A’s locker room has been lacking team chemistry, and according to SB Nation, on Sunday Coco Crisp, Eric Hosmer and Yonder Alonso supported Valencia in the disagreement that led to the fight.

The fight occurred Friday before the A’s played the White Sox. Butler had trouble minding his own business and could have cost Valencia one of his endorsement deals. The equipment rep asked Valencia if he used his off-brand cleats for games and he said he only used them for pregame workouts. Butler spoke up and said that Valencia was lying, that he saw him wear them for a game and that the company should drop Valencia. No one would take kindly to that. According to bleacher report Valencia confronted Butler and said “Don’t you ever loud-talk me in front of a rep, that was wrong” to which Butler replied “I can say whatever I want, and your bi— ass isn’t going to do anything about it.”

That’s where Butler was wrong.

It was a full-on fight, boxing style. The two players haven’t spoken to each other since the altercation. Butler has missed Oakland’s three-game series with the Chicago White Sox due to concussion symptoms of a headache and nausea.

Both players will pay a fine for their behavior and Butler’s locker was moved to the far end of the clubhouse, away from Valencia’s. General manager for the Athletics, David Forst, said “There was an altercation in the clubhouse, we’re aware of it, both players have been disciplined and fined and we’re moving pas it.”

A’s manager Bob Melvin said he is comfortable with his decision to fine the players instead of suspend them for the fight, according to Yahoo Sports. “You’re not always going to get along great, but I expect us to be fine going forward,” Melvin said. “I think this is the easiest way to move forward.”

Hosmer, first baseman for Kansas City, has played with both Butler and Valencia in Kansas City. He and Crisp, A’s outfielder, tweeted in support of Valencia.

According to Yahoo Sports Alonso, a first baseman for the A’s, said Valencia is honest and a good person. “He’s a guy that if you’re not his team, you may not like him, and you want to beat him. If he’s on your team, you want this guy playing every single night, helping you win. And if you’re in a fight, you want him right next to you,” Alonso said. “He’s as truthful as it gets and doesn’t mind hurting your feelings, knowing that at some point you will appreciate what he told you is the truth. Honesty is refreshing these days.”

As the non-waiver trade deadline has lapsed the two may have to learn to get along for the remainder of the season because it would be more difficult to trade either of them now, but not impossible. Valencia has one year left on his contract and Butler signed through the 2017 season. Valencia is hitting .301/.351/.476 and has 15 home runs, 44 RBI in 97 games and Butler is hitting .286/.338/.419 and has four home runs and 30 RBI in 79 games.

OAKLAND, CA – JULY 24: Billy Butler #16 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates a solo homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning to regain the lead against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum on July 24, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Don Feria/Getty Images)

Article by Lindsey Horsting