BUTLERS RECKONING: Why 2026 is Butler's Line in the Sand

Lawrence Butler came into 2025 spring training with momentum, expectations, and a real chance to cement himself as part of the A’s long-term core. Instead, the year unraveled. This episode walks step by step through Butler’s season — from the optimism of spring, to early warning signs, to a regular season that never quite found its footing. The swings, the approach, the confidence — it all drifted, and by the end of the year the gap between what Butler was supposed to be and what he actually was had become impossible to ignore. This isn’t a hit piece. It’s an honest autopsy of a season that went sideways. The bigger question isn’t what went wrong — it’s what comes next. 2026 isn’t just another year for Lawrence Butler, it’s a pivot point. The A’s need him to bounce back, not just for lineup depth, but for the entire roster vision heading toward the Vegas era. This episode explains why Butler’s rebound matters more than almost any single-player storyline on the roster, what a successful bounce-back actually looks like, and why the margin for patience is officially gone. In baseball terms: this is the at-bat that decides the inning. Lawrence Butler, A's Lawrence Butler, Lawrence Butler 2025, Lawrence Butler 2026, A's player analysis, A's season breakdown, Lawrence Butler bounce back, A's young core, A's rebuild, Lawrence Butler struggles, A's outfield future, Locked On A's, A's baseball analysis, MLB breakout candidates 2026, A's Vegas future Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts... Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/... Join the Everydayer Club today and get Locked on A’s with no interruptions, members-only Discord access, and more — all for just $5 a month or $50 a year. Go to https://lockedonas.supercast.com/ Did Locked On Locked on A’s make your Spotify Wrapped? Prove it on social media to secure a free month of our brand new Everydayer Club. Just tag our national Locked On Podcast Network account on any social platform, and we'll drop you a code. Be one of the first to join the Everydayer Club to get your favorite show ad-free and exclusive access to the members-only Discord channel. Join our LOCKED ON A'S INSIDERS texting community and chat with host Booney any time by clicking this link: https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonas. Booney provides one-on-ones, breaking news, show previews, A's breakdowns, and offseason updates. Try it FREE for 14 days! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonas Follow the show on Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok: @lockedonas Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rocket Money Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Every Friday night, before the games tip off, FanDuel gives fans a new way to kick off the weekend with NBA Happy Hour. Check the FanDuel app and see what’s dropping during NBA Happy Hour — every Friday from 6 to 7:30 PM Eastern. FanDuel — the Official Sportsbook Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) #Athletics #LasVegasAthletics #MLB Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.