Billy Butler bought No. 16 from Josh Reddick at a discount.
Billy Butler bought No. 16 from Josh Reddick at a discount. (USATSI)

It happens every year. Veterans change teams, and, in exchange for their favorite uniform number, they give the incumbent number-wearer a gift. A watch, a week's vacation on some exotic island, whatever. Hey, it's good to have wealthy friends.

The Athletics signed DH Billy Butler in the offseason, and Butler has worn No. 16 just about his entire life. In little league, high school, the minors, and with the Royals from 2008-14. It's his favorite number so he's worn it his entire career whenever possible.

Outfielder Josh Reddick has worn No. 16 with Oakland the last three years, so after signing with the A's, Butler approached Reddick about buying the number. Reddick agreed to the bargain price of a new winch for his truck and an Xbox. Yep, that all. Here's the winch:

And here's the nugget on the new Xbox, via John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group:

For Reddick, giving up 16 wasn't a major hardship, particularly since he got a new X-Box from Butler out of it as a token of appreciation.

...

I do like 16, but 22 is good, too," the right fielder said. "It's the number my high school coach had, so that's cool. And it's part of the unwritten rules of baseball to give the guys with the most playing time priority.

"Maybe I'll be one of those guys one day, but I'm just at 41/2 years of service time now. I can wait."

The internet tells me a "Warn XD9000" winch runs about $1,000 with a little wiggle room in each direction depending on the exact model. An Xbox One will cost you $350 with no games or anything like that. So Butler's total outlay was $1,350 or so, again depending on the winch.

Did Reddick sell low? Definitely. Butler told Hickey "I don't want to say I'm superstitious, but I feel better knowing I have that number," so he's attached to it. Reddick might have been able to milk him for a Rolex or something.

That said, Reddick went practical. He probably needed a new winch and hey, who doesn't like playing Xbox? I respect him for not going for the big money grab and instead thinking big picture.

Reddick, by the way, will now wear No. 22.