Byron Buxton Shuts Down Trade Rumors Again
The Minnesota Twins completed their sweep of the Texas Rangers on Thursday, pushing their record to 36-40 on the season — 4.5 games back of Cleveland and Chicago in the AL Central and 1.5 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the final AL Wild Card spot.
Given what this team was supposed to do this season, especially after Pablo Lopez hit the IL at the start of Spring Training, Twins fans aren’t complaining with their slot in the standings. They are a bit nervous, however.
Despite the fact that there is still a month and a half before the MLB trade deadline on August 3, insiders around baseball have been talking an awful lot recently about all of the pretty assets the Twins will have to sell at the deadline.
No. 1 on that list is Byron Buxton, who on Wednesday, ESPN actually ranked the No. 2 overall available trade asset in all of baseball, behind only Tarik Skubal. Of course, it’s important to note that Buck has a full no-trade clause, meaning he’s only leaving if he does so willingly.
Byron Buxton says he’s staying in Minnesota (again)
On Thursday night, after the Twins’ fourth-straight victory, Buxton made it very clear that — unless Tom Pohlad comes to him with plans to change course organizationally — he’s going nowhere.
“I don’t give a f—. End of the day, nobody’s in my shoes. Nobody can say anything about what I’m going to do. I know what I’m doing. The only way I’m getting out of here — they’re going to have to come talk to me and tell me something else. Simple as that. … I ain’t said nothing about leaving, nor will I. I’m a Twin.”
Byron Buxton – via The Athletic
Related: Another Talented Twins Pitcher Ready to Return from Injury
Byron Buxton is in the midst of a career season, batting .275 with a .936 OPS in 63 games played entering today’s game against the Rangers (where he went 0-for-5) — well on his way to a second-straight All-Star appearance this summer.
We are about one year removed from last year’s mid-summer classic, where Buck made it abundantly clear to the entire league that he was not open to waiving his no-trade clause.
This offseason, however, the 32-year-old started to change his tune, after the Minnesota Twins decided to cut another $15 to $20 million from their player payroll and appeared destined to finish the fire sale that happened late last July.
Minnesota Twins’ play leading up to trade deadline will decide their fate
Behind the scenes, the MN Twins are telling players that their play on the field will dictate what ownership does at the deadline. That mimics a report earlier today from Jim Bowden (The Athletic) that claimed the Twins are looking for bullpen help at the upcoming deadline, NOT trying to sell.
Will that last through July and into August? That is the multi-million dollar question. The answer isn’t black and white, either.
With the Twins only 1 1/2 games out in the wild-card race, Buxton is focused on what’s taking place on the field and not in print.
Buxton not only believes the Twins, who never trailed during a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers, are trending in the right direction, he’s secure in the fact that he alone is in charge of his destiny.
Dan Hayes – The Athletic
It will be easier for the Pohlads to keep the team together through the deadline if they win more baseball games than they lose between now and August 3.
On the other side of the coin, another selloff will be easier to rollout if Buxton and the boys start losing again.
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