Billy Butler, as DH, is currently batting .255/.329/.394, good for a .723 OPS. While this leaves Butler with a 101 OPS+, just above league average compared to all other players, when compared to only other designated hitters he has a less good 90 OPS+. Butler's recent stretch of good play has salvaged his numbers from the disaster zone, to comfortably mediocre.

In 2014 Oakland received poor production from the DH position. .215/.294/.343 .637 OPS 82 OPS+ and 75 OPS+ when compared to only other DH.

We know Butler receives an annual average salary of $10,000,000, but how much did Oakland pay to fill their 2014 DH position?

Over 152 games in AL parks Oakland DH's accrued 667 PA, an average of 4.38PA/G. To find out how many "games" a player was DH we will convert their PA as DH into "DH Games".

Alberto Callaspo received more DH PA than any other player, 151. 151 PA divided by 4.38PA/G credits Callaspo with 34.47 DH Games. John Jaso is credited with 31.96 DH Games. Adam Dunn 16.21, Cespedes 15.75, Crisp, Moss, Donaldson, Norris, Vogt, Gomes, Lowrie, all the way down to Kyle Blanks' 1.83 DH Games, and Nate Freiman's 0.68.

Based on his base salary of $4,875,000 received $141,407 per game over a 162 game season. Applying his per game salary to his DH Games shows that Callaspo was paid $1,037,439 to DH. Jaso was paid $453,802, Dunn $1,500,930, Cespedes $1,021,055, Freiman $2,072.

Add every DH Salary up and the A's paid $5,168,656 over 152 games for 75 sOPS+ (DH specific). This doesn't control for money received in trades, most notably the Adam Dunn trade, interpret that how you will.

Butler's cost? Adjust his base salary of $10,000,000/162 to reflect the DH season of 152 games and he is being paid $9,382,716.

2015 Butler as DH .255/.329/.394 90 sOPS+ $9,382,716

2014 Oakland DH .215/.294/.343 75 sOPS+ $5,168,656

For an extra $4,214,060 Oakland has improved their DH from a bad hitter (82 OPS+) to an average hitter (101 OPS+).