BASEBALL

Royals part ways with DH Butler — The Kansas City Royals have declined their option for next season on Billy Butler, making the former All-Star designated hitter a free agent for the first time in his eight-year career. The Royals elected to pay Butler a $1 million buyout rather than exercise their $12.5 million option for next season. There is still the chance Butler could sign a new contract with the club that chose him in the first round of the 2004 amateur draft. He hit .262 with eight RBIs during the playoffs as the Royals reached World Series.

FOOTBALL

Seahawks release WR Walters — The Seattle Seahawks released receiver Bryan Walters and signed safety Terrance Parks from the practice squad Saturday afternoon. Parks is being added to add depth to a safety position suddenly thin on healthy bodies with Jeron Johnson out this week after suffering a concussion at Carolina and starting strong safety Kam Chancellor questionable with a groin injury. Seattle has only three other healthy safeties — Earl Thomas, Steven Terrell and DeShawn Shead, who also plays cornerback.

RUGBY

U.S. no match for All Blacks — New Zealand’s mighty All Blacks turned their USA rugby rivals blue with a bruising defense, and then green with envy as they went on the offensive, spreading the field and sending a parade of ball carriers through the gaps and over the try line Saturday on the way to 74-6 win. The match was played in front of a sold-out Solder Field crowd of 61,500 and a national TV audience, both impressive accomplishments for a rebuilding USA program. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen rested his core of veteran players, including captain Richie McCaw, the most capped New Zealander of all-time and the game’s only three-time international player of the year.

— From wire reports