What did Billy Butler give Josh Reddick for his number? A winch
The going rate for a jersey number in MLB fluctuates. When a player joins a team and wants the number he’s worn in the past, he’ll have to make a deal with the player who currently wears it.
There’s not a solid dollar figure attached in these cases. The cost is usually a gift — though something more lavish than your standard $10 Starbucks gift card. In recent transactions: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez gave Kevin Gausman a Rolex, and John Lackey gave Pat Neshek an autographed Babe Ruth ball.
For Billy Butler, who sought his No. 16 upon signing with the Oakland Athletics, that meant hooking up outfielder Josh Reddick with a present. Reddick showed it off Wednesday and it shines a little differently than a Rolex — it’s a winch for his truck.
Most people use winches like this one for four-wheeling, pulling your vehicle or someone else’s out of the mud or up some tough terrain. They can also be used for towing. You can buy one of these on Amazon for $940, but the list price is $1,356. Butler just signed a $30 million contract with the A’s, so neither is too rich for his blood.
Prying away the number he’s worn since 2008 with the Kansas City Royals for under $1,500 seems like a bargain compared to a shiny watch or baseball artifact.
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Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
