If Byron Buxton had it his way, he’d be with the Minnesota Twins for the rest of his career. As the Twins have torn down their roster over the past calendar year, Buxton has been adamant he isn’t going anywhere, and he holds a no-trade clause. Still, the rumors haven’t stopped, particularly to his hometown Atlanta Braves.
It’s gotten to the point where Buxton may show up with a physical copy of his contract and a highlighter after Jeff Passan listed him as No. 2 on a list of the top trade candidates ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. But as anyone who has followed this franchise knows, things can change quickly.
If the Twins tear things down again, it could be the breaking point that convinces Buxton to leave. And with the way things are going, it could cause Passan’s projected 30 percent chance of the Twins trading to skyrocket, leading to a premature end to his time in Minnesota.
Before we get too far, the Twins should do everything in their power to keep Buxton. He’s the last remaining attraction on a team that has become increasingly unpopular since last year’s trade deadline. He’s also having a career year, hitting .275/.336/.601 with 23 homers, 36 RBI and seven stolen bases entering Wednesday.
Buxton also likes being in Minnesota, even with everything falling apart around him. The team’s ownership saga temporarily irked Buxton amid trade rumors last winter. Still, Buxton has continued to be a force even as the Twins own a 35-40 record and are a couple of games out of the final Wild Card spot in the American League.
In many ways, Twins fans should breathe a sigh of relief that Buxton wants to stick around. Of course, the front office may force his hand.
Buxton is the highest-name Twins player on Passan’s list, but he’s far from the only one. In total, seven players could be leaving Minnesota in the next six weeks, and some of them carry more weight than others.
Dealing Trevor Larnach, Josh Bell or Victor Caratini is unlikely to be a seismic move. But a decision to trade Joe Ryan or Ryan Jeffers has felt like a formality since the season started and may happen even if the Twins are in the thick of a weak AL playoff chase.
For reference, Jeffers has an 85 percent chance to be traded in Passan’s article, while Ryan has a 55 percent chance. While dealing with both seems like a terrible move for public relations, it fits Minnesota’s timeline. After 2024’s payroll cut and last year’s fire sale, it seems geared more toward players under 27 than toward Buxton, who will turn 33 in December.
Dealing Jeffers and Ryan would also call into question Minnesota’s plan to compete in the 2027 season. While there may not be a season due to a lockout that feels imminent, it also could tap into the one thing that Passan believes could make him waive his no-trade clause.
Buxton’s loyalty to Minnesota is admirable, but at age 32, he also wants to win, and the Twins aren’t doing that this year. Barring a spending spree over the winter, that might not happen next year, either. Minnesota is positioned to have another active deadline and go almost full rebuild, and if anything will change Buxton’s mind, it’s the Twins’ timeline.
In many ways, it’s the same thinking Carlos Correa had at last year’s deadline. While Correa had a no-trade clause and a contract that nobody wanted to take on, he decided he wanted out when the Twins traded 10 players at last year’s deadline.
Of course, there won’t be that type of detonation when the deadline approaches this year. Still, it could give Buxton’s questions about what his future might look like in Minnesota some answers.
At 33, that could mean a team that is more geared towards super prospects Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Kaelen Culpepper. At 34, Buxton’s injury history could catch up with him. By the time he hits free agency at the end of the 2028 season, he could be a 35-year-old potentially entering a different landscape, including salary floors and caps, depending on how the labor situation plays out.
That could be a scenario where Buxton finally has enough and turns a player who wants to be a Twin for life into a desired prize at the trade deadline.
