Butler signed a minor league deal with the Nationals on Friday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

EDGE Analysis

Butler, who elected free agency in November, spent all of last season in the Cleveland organization with Triple-A Columbus, where he batted .240/.318/.344 in 118 games. Butler played an extensive role with Tampa Bay in 2015, but likely serves as organizational depth for the Nationals.

Butler accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

After officially clearing waivers Friday, the veteran outfielder will remain within the Indians organization as a member of their Triple-A affiliate. That said, Butler is unlikely to rejoin the big league club anytime soon given that he no longer has a spot on the 40-man roster. He has slashed .238/.306/.360 with eight homers at Triple-A Columbus on the year.

Butler was designated for assignment Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The Indians acquired ace reliever Andrew Miller from the Yankees on Sunday, and with a 40-man spot needed for him, Butler was the chosen casualty. The 30-year-old outfielder had some good moments with the Rays last season, but has languished with the Indians' Triple-A affiliate in Columbus for all of 2016, producing a .298/.306/.360 slash line. He's likely to stick with the organization in the event he clears waivers.

Butler was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Butler was a long shot to make the Opening Day roster this spring with the Indians having several major league options in the outfield. He'll start the year at Triple-A Columbus to get regular playing time.

Butler was claimed off waivers by the Indians in December, Cleveland.com's Paul Hoynes reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tampa Bay placed Butler on waivers, and the Indians swooped in and grabbed him in an effort to improve what was a very shaky outfield last season. He hit .276 with 12 doubles and eight home runs in 88 games last year, and could find his way into the lineup if Lonnie Chisenhall is struggling at the plate.

Butler was designated for assignment Thursday to make room on the 40-man roster for the recently acquired Hank Conger, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Conger was acquired by the Rays for cash considerations on Wednesday, which forced the club to clear room on its 40-man roster. Butler, who had a decent 2015 campaign with a .276//.326/.416 slash line to go with eight home runs in 257 at-bats, was DFA'd in a corresponding move and will be placed on waivers.

Butler is out of the lineup Thursday, the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin reports. Butler may start to see his playing time slip now that John Jaso is back and hitting well. Jaso will start in left field Thursday and hit atop the Rays' order.

Butler is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Royals, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reports. Grady Sizemore will get the start in left field in the nightcap, pushing Butler to the bench after a 1-for-4 showing in Game 1. Butler is just 3-for-20 so far in July, but his overall body of work this season (.298/.347/.447) will likely be enough to keep him in at least a semi-regular role for the foreseeable future.

Butler is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reports. Butler will hit the bench after wearing the Golden Sombrero on Saturday, as he struck out in all four of his at-bats. The 29-year-old's contact issues have begun to rear their head with increasing frequency, resulting in his batting average dropping below .300 for the first time since May. He could soon find himself out of a regular starting role.

Butler is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Indians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Butler will be held out of the lineup for a third straight game, suggesting he may be used in a platoon going forward, even though he went 29-for-95 (.305 BA) in June. His numbers look good on the surface this season, but he has a .420 BABIP, 27.9 percent strikeout rate and 4.5 percent walk rate.