Royals DH Billy Butler has hit 103 homeruns and has 480 RBI while hitting .300 in his six-year major league career. (AP)

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• U.S.S. Mariner says don't sign Billy Butler

Six years into his pro career, Billy Butler has become the face of the franchise for the Kansas City Royals.

So far he has a higher batting average and more hits, homeruns, RBI, and at-bats than former batting champion and seven-time All-Star Michael Young at that point in his career.

Butler also has more hits, homeruns, and RBI than Mariners Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez through the first six years of their respective careers.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com thinks that the Mariners, who are desperate for hitting, are very interested in finding a way to bring him to Seattle, even if that means trading away a high-end pitching prospect.

Matt Pitman, host of the Mariners pre and post-game show on 710 ESPN, is very much in favor of the Mariners making a major push for Butler.

"He is the only guy out there right now that I think is available via trade, and I'm including Justin Upton in this, that I would lead the conversation, if I'm Jack Zduriencik , with Taijaun Walker," Pitman said, filling in on "Brock and Salk" on Friday.

Trading away a top prospect like Walker would resemble a deal last season in which the Mariners sent starting pitchers Michael Pineda, who finished fifth in AL Rookie of the year voting in 2011, and Jose Campos to the Yankees in exchange for catcher Jesus Montero, the top prospect in the Yankees organization at the time, and pitcher Hector Noesi. That move worked out pretty well for the Mariners as Montero went on to lead the team in batting average and finished second on the team in homeruns and RBI. Pineda, meanwhile, did not pitch in any game last season due to an injury suffered in spring training.

"I'm of the mind that that's why you have prospects, you don't have prospects to wonder what the heck can happen in the next five years," Pitman said. "You have prospects to be able to go out and wheel and deal, and in the way that the Yankees and the Red Sox can out-spend you financially, you can out-trade them."

Mariners analyst Shannon Drayer is also on board with sending a high-end prospect like Walker to the Royals for Butler.

"Butler is almost perfect when you look at what the Mariners need," Drayer said. "He's a hitter first, power second right-handed bat, and with the fences coming in this year it would be worth it."

Drayer does see a few potential problems with the deal, however. The Mariners would have to decide what to do with current DH Jesus Montero and first baseman Justin Smoak if the deal happened. She also says although Walker may be the Mariners best bargaining chip, he may not be what the Royals need right now.

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  jeff r wrote...

  billy butler

  November 16, 2012 2:42 pm

  i listened to the show today and found myself yelling at matt. i felt as if he didnt have a clue about what he was talking about. reminded me of dave mahler who is a waste of time and full of himself. anyway, if we are going to move this team forward butler is not the answer. we have had too many richie sexson types. yes butler can hit for average and is clutch but no defense, no speed and not overwhelming power. we traded for montero who is butler. how many montero/smoak/saunders/robinson/wells/peguero/thames does this team need no we need to find a young outfielder with speed and power and an arm. can anyone say giancarlo stanton. now if you want to trade walker and paxson or whomever in whatever combo for stanton do it.. jack z has been a failure in fister,morrow,morse,league,ichiro,lee and many other unproductive trades.this should be his do or die year ( along with the management who dont care about the fans -- )

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  Ry_S wrote...

  I agree...

  November 17, 2012 1:29 pm

  Trade for Giancarlo and sign BJ Upton...line up like this... Guti Ackley Seager Giancarlo Upton Montero Smoke/Carp Jaso Ryan

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  SeaTownSportsAtic wrote...

  Seriously? ...

  November 16, 2012 7:29 pm

  I understand the M's offense was bad .. but this team was 5 on the road for runs scored, they're an EXTREMELY YOUNG TEAM, and bringing in the fences should do nothing but help. Pitching ...... PITCHING wins championships ... not offense. San Fransisco Giants win World Series because of their 3 excellent SP and an excellent catcher. If you look now, the M's could have that same combination and maybe even more with Felix, Hultzen, Walker, and Paxton ... so tell me WHY IN THE H E L L would we trade away a factor that has PROVEN to win World Series championships? Asenine

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  Marinerman87 wrote...

  Mariners need an established middle of the order bat

  November 16, 2012 8:14 pm

  Everything else would fall into place in the lineup if there is a big threat. Butler would balance out the lineup and be the best right handed hitter the M's have had since Edgar. Get Butler and a good corner outfielder or first basemen and all the sudden this would be at least an average offense that when paired with the M's pitching staff would lead the M's back into the playoffs conversation. The team has good young players, it's time to start building on the foundation.

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  clevesside wrote...

  M's trade history....

  November 17, 2012 7:23 am

  ...includes getting power guys after they peaked. Billy Butler, good as he is, sounds like relocating could do more harm than good, albeit considering its KC he'd be leaving. Case in point for peaking hitters: Figgins, Sexton, et al. You can add your own.

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  Rayvensdad wrote...

  clevesside...

  November 17, 2012 10:19 pm

  you obviously haven't done any research on the matter, yeah? "after they peaked"? What about Billy Butler makes you think he's peaked? He's 26... not 32. His prime has just began, not to mention he isn't an "only" power hitter. His career BA is .300, and last year he hit .313. You can't honestly use Figgins and Richie Sexson (not Sexton) as comparisons. Both Chone and Richie were past their prime when we grabbed them, and even Richie had two good years with the M's, just flamed out significantly when he did. Butler is primed and ready for at least 5 or 6 more very good years. This would be a massive pick up for this team.

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