In my humble (but accurate) opinion, Minnesota Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton is the franchise's most exciting and dynamic players since the days of Kirby Puckett. Yeah, I know he's been bit by the injury bug since first breaking into the big leagues in 2015. But he's proven that his presence in the lineup 100-120 games per season is on par or superior to 150 or more games of any other outfielder in Major League Baseball.
After turning down a 7-year incentive laden offer from the Twins last year, Buxton's immediate future with the club is very much uncertain. The Twins' brass apparently listened to trade offers for Buxton last July but, thankfully, weren't blown away by anything. With Buxton a free agent after the 2022 season, you would think a definitive decision will have to be made by Spring Training, which is slated to begin in about three months.
“There’s no rush,” Buxton said. “As far as the contract stuff, I don’t really know too much about it. It’s more of keeping it going. Obviously, everybody knows the situation. Just got to keep being myself, keep being me and communicate.”
Before the Twins would move Buxton, they would want to make sure they are unable to reach an agreement with him on an extension. The parties continue to communicate, but have not made progress toward a deal, sources said.
Finding a middle ground will not be easy. Buxton’s representatives want him to be paid like a potential superstar. The Twins, meanwhile, want to protect against the possibility that Buxton will continue to miss a large number of games due to injuries. Their budgetary restrictions make it difficult for them to absorb bad contracts.
I understand how the organization might be a little gun shy given the big contract they doled out to Joe Mauer in 2010, only to see him not put forth the type of production he amassed the five seasons prior to the beginning of that deal (the first year of Mauer's extension was 2011, a disastrous season for him and the franchise). Nevertheless, a guy like Buxton is a once-in-a-generation type player, one that, if his upside is realized, can be the cornerstone of a championship team. And with the solid young core the Twins have compiled via trades of stars Nelson Cruz and Jose Berrios as well as recent drafts, re-upping Buxton is a risk absolutely worth taking.
Put it this way: if the Twins trade Buxton in 2022 or allow him to walk after that season, an already impatient fan base will stay away in droves for the foreseeable future. Yeah, a dormant Target Field will be even less enticing for potential free agents beyond '22.
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