BR Makes a Case for Why Minnesota Twins Should Trade Byron Buxton

When the Minnesota Twins start working on their blueprint for 2025 it will almost certainly include trading from the major league roster. The reality is that ownership has afforded the front office no additional money to spend on payroll. That could lead to a sizable trade or two if Minnesota really wants some pieces back.

Of course the Twins have one of baseball’s best farm systems. There is both quality and depth there for the organization to land almost anyone they’d want. That doesn’t mean that anyone on the big league roster should be feeling comfortable though either. A crazy move always comes as a surprise.

What is Byron Buxton’s value for the Minnesota Twins?

When the Minnesota Twins signed Byron Buxton to his seven-year extension for $100 million, it was watered down because of his injury history. He is among the best players in the game when healthy, but 2024 was just the second year playing more than 100 games during his 10-year career. The former second overall pick could draw interest on the trade market, and Bleacher Report has a doozy to suggest.

The Trade: Minnesota Twins receive 1B/DH Ryan Mountcastle from BAL, IF Max Wagner from BAL and LHP Colton Gordon from HOU. Baltimore Orioles receive RHP J.P. France from HOU. Houston Astros receive CF Byron Buxton and cash considerations from MIN.

“The big question here is whether Minnesota is getting enough to part with one of the oft-injured faces of its franchise… Byron Buxton has a full no-trade clause that could keep this from becoming a reality, but he also just watched the Twins penny-pinch their way from preseason AL Central favorites to a fourth-place finish in a three-playoff-team division—this before the news from two weeks ago that the Twins could be sold this offseason. Might not be a bad time to waive that no-trade clause to go to a team that isn’t letting the ongoing Regional Sports Networks fiasco serve as an excuse for not investing in winning right now.

Minnesota does need a 1B/DH, too, as Carlos Santana was on a one-year deal and isn’t getting any younger anyway. Getting Mountcastle, a pair of respectable prospects and some salary relief by getting out from under the $60M left on Buxton’s contract might do the trick.”

Kerry Miller on a Byron Buxton trade (Bleacher Report)

Related: Ranking: 10 Most Likely Minnesota Twins to be Traded This Offseason

As Miller notes, Buxton has a full no-trade clause, so he would need to approve of this. The reality is that probably makes this a showstopper from the jump. Thinking through it though, it is possible that Buxton would like to see more support around him than what the Pohlad family has allowed Derek Falvey to do. Carlos Correa was brought in under the assumption he would be supplemented. The former World Series champion has watched the franchise cut costs instead.

Related: Minnesota Twins Plan to Shop at Least One Young Infielder This Offseason

It stands to reason that the Twins making any trades this offseason would be in an effort to bolster the roster. This one would significantly detract from it.

Would Minnesota even consider dealing Buxton?

It seems more likely that Minnesota would deal Carlos Correa than Byron Buxton, but neither of those moves set the franchise up to be more competitive in the short term. In this scenario, Mountcastle is a nice get for the Twins, but that’s not enough. Wagner is a borderline top 30 prospect, and Gordon is outside the top 10 for an organization with a weak system.

Byron Buxton is batting .397 with 17 extra-base hits in his last 19 games. pic.twitter.com/OYsZb17spq

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) July 21, 2024

One would hope that the Pohlad’s final moves as owners isn’t to strip the roster down to its studs just to save some dollars. Those types of moves would also water down the value of the franchise, and potentially deter interested parties.

Related: Minnesota Twins May Add a Gardenhire to Their Coaching Staff

Ultimately, and even for his faults, let’s just leave dealing Byron Buxton for parts and cash relief off the table.