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Byron Buxton has been the face of the Minnesota Twins for the better part of the last decade. Drafted second overall by Minnesota in the 2012 MLB Draft out of high school, Buxton spent three years in the minor leagues before making his debut in 2015. Possessing all the tools a team could want from a center fielder — speed, defense, power, and an emerging hit tool — it did not take long for Buxton to show his superstar potential at the major league level.
Winning his first Gold Glove in 2017, Buxton did not put up the offensive numbers that would ultimately make him one of the best center fielders in the game years later, but he did have a solid season at the plate, hitting .253 while driving in 51 runs and stealing 29 bases. Unfortunately, the 140 games he appeared in that season are still a career high, and he did not eclipse 100 again until 2024 due to numerous different injuries — mainly to his lower body.
The injury narrative has been the biggest story of Buxton’s career, and it has also shaped the conversation around his trade value. The Twins have not been in real World Series contention at any point in Buxton’s career, and while they have been players in the American League Central at different points, that usually doesn’t say as much as it would in other divisions.
This leads to an almost yearly conversation about Buxton and his potential availability at the trade deadline, but because he has a no-trade clause, those talks often do not get very far.
Dan Hayes of The Athletic recently poured some more cold water on the possibility of Buxton being moved, saying that while teams continue to call, the Twins continue to express little interest.
Hayes' statement comes amid some speculation that Buxton's hometown team, the Atlanta Braves, could be interested in swinging a deal for him. But as Hayes stated, the star outfielder is no more available now than he's been at any point in his Twins tenure.
It seems that no matter what direction the team goes this season, and how many games they may lose, that much is not changing.
Buxton has publicly shut down any desire to be moved elsewhere, and the organization has not expressed any real willingness to move him. But again, as the Twins tread the waters of mediocrity this season, that buzz is reigniting.
Continue reading...
Winning his first Gold Glove in 2017, Buxton did not put up the offensive numbers that would ultimately make him one of the best center fielders in the game years later, but he did have a solid season at the plate, hitting .253 while driving in 51 runs and stealing 29 bases. Unfortunately, the 140 games he appeared in that season are still a career high, and he did not eclipse 100 again until 2024 due to numerous different injuries — mainly to his lower body.
The injury narrative has been the biggest story of Buxton’s career, and it has also shaped the conversation around his trade value. The Twins have not been in real World Series contention at any point in Buxton’s career, and while they have been players in the American League Central at different points, that usually doesn’t say as much as it would in other divisions.
This leads to an almost yearly conversation about Buxton and his potential availability at the trade deadline, but because he has a no-trade clause, those talks often do not get very far.
Dan Hayes of The Athletic recently poured some more cold water on the possibility of Buxton being moved, saying that while teams continue to call, the Twins continue to express little interest.
Hayes' statement comes amid some speculation that Buxton's hometown team, the Atlanta Braves, could be interested in swinging a deal for him. But as Hayes stated, the star outfielder is no more available now than he's been at any point in his Twins tenure.
It seems that no matter what direction the team goes this season, and how many games they may lose, that much is not changing.
Buxton has publicly shut down any desire to be moved elsewhere, and the organization has not expressed any real willingness to move him. But again, as the Twins tread the waters of mediocrity this season, that buzz is reigniting.
Continue reading...
