Byron Buxton is the Leader Carlos Correa Couldn’t Be

The Minnesota Twins believed they had a superstar when they signed Carlos Correa to that six-year, $200 million contract. When he was on the field, it often looked like it. Behind the scenes, he was the leader you’d hope for him to be.

Unfortunately, at the first sign of trouble though, he jumped ship and went back to where things were comfortable. That’s something fellow leader Byron Buxton has no interest in. Not now, not ever.

The difference between Buxton and Correa is stark, and the former is much more Joe Mauer than Correa ever seems he will be.

Byron Buxton shows up for Minnesota Twins

It’s not customary for injured players to travel with the team. It’s possible that Byron Buxton returns from his rib cartilage issue next week in Detroit. The purpose for his plane ticket to Cleveland was professional not pleasure though. His message to Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune was simple. I’m here, and always will be.

“Nothing’s changed. It’s just part of baseball. It’s the business side of it. Just because we go through these tough roads or whatever, it is what it is. We’ll be better once we get on the other end of it and figure things out a little bit more. The end of the season we’ll talk a little bit more, but I ain’t going nowhere.

“It was very helpful. [Morneau] was here. Got traded and he didn’t want to be traded. It was just one of those things where he just told me I’ve got an opportunity to kind of change the culture here. I take that to heart a little bit because that’s who I am. Like I said, I ain’t going nowhere.”

Byron Buxton – Star Tribune

Buxton is not the same publicly vocal leader that Correa showed to be both in his time with the Astros, and here in Minnesota. He does have the respect of the clubhouse, and Correa made sure to tell him this was Buxton’s team when he originally came in.

While Buxton signed his seven-year, $100 million extension, the no trade clause was something he instituted because he meant it. Minnesota took Buxton with the second overall pick in 2012. One spot behind Correa. He’s been here ever since and his unwavering message is that he will always be.

Related: What to Make of the Craziest Trade Deadline in Minnesota Twins History

The Minnesota Twins stripped things down to the studs. It’s not good for Rocco Baldelli, Byron Buxton, or the fans. Buxton will persevere though, and he wants to be part of the change that gets this right.

MN Twins have a Joe Mauer replication in Buxton

Joe Mauer long has drawn the ire of Minnesota Twins fans because of his production post-extension. He got paid $184 million, got hurt, and was never the same. He still finished as a first ballot Hall of Famer, but you don’t have to look far for someone to tell you that wasn’t enough.

Not unlike Mauer, Buxton signed a big extension (and Correa came along too) only for the same Pohlad family to say the spending was enough and tell them to go do it on their own. Not unlike Mauer, Buxton has struggled to stay on the field, and that narrative has marred his career.

Very much like Mauer though, Buxton has been an incredible talent. He won the Platinum Glove in 2017 while still finding himself as a hitter. Since 2019 he owns a .258/.320/.534 slash line with 128 home runs. He is looking at the best two consecutive seasons of health in his career, and the per-game glimpses show us just how impactful he can be.

At 31 years old, and given the time missed, it’s unlikely Buxton and the 30+-or-so career fWAR he finishes with will have Cooperstown calling. He certainly will be inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame, and it wouldn’t be shocking if no one else wears “25.”

Related: MN Twins Owner Stepped In, Closed Carlos Correa Trade Himself

Fans, the organization, and Buxton himself will always hope for a cleaner bill of health now and going forward. You can’t get better than the person that the Baxley, Georgia native is though, and he’s made it clear, Minnesota is where he will lead from.