Can Byron Buxton Actually Get Healthy?

[Blyleven2011]

Looks like we are going to fire another trainer for not keeping our number one player healthy ...

I would also fire the surgeon who botched the knee surgery and if he has another surgery  , have a different  surgeon  do the procedure  and have a quality control guy looking over his shoulder ...

Can anyone remember  a player so fragile ????   , John castino's  career ended with injuries after 5 years ....

[HokieRif]

5 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Can anyone remember  a player so fragile ????   , John castino's  career ended with injuries after 5 years ....

Not baseball, but this is the only person that comes to mind

[CRF]

Can he get healthy? Sure. Can he stay healthy? I don't think so. 

[Markdumont25]

To be honest I was a bit relieved he was shut down on this rehab assignment. There was talk of bringing him back as a DH or a twice a week outfielder, none of which sounded like a good idea to me. As much as it sucks for Buxton and fans of his that want to see him thrive, right now we simply don't need him being anything less than a full-time center. Our lineup has been playing better than it has all year long and while we could certainly use a center fielder, we don't need another DH. Better he just sits out the year and works on whatever is ailing him then disrupt a peaking offense.

However, I am a fan of Buxton and his contract. Even though the 100 million seems like a lot, we're basically paying him per year what we're paying Joey Gallo and I'd still make that deal today just for the chance that he can eventually become healthy and bring all of his talent everyday.

 

[minman1982]

Even if he is "ready" to come back for the playoffs, does it make sense to do so? If everyone else is contributing, why mess with a good thing?

As for his future with the team beyond this season, who knows what that will bring. While I dream of seeing a full season of healthy Byron Buxton, I don't think that will ever happen. Unfortunately, I think he will be a uniquely talented player who could never stay healthy enough to make full use of his talents. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

2 hours ago, SGL said:

Has he ever been healthy.  

You’re getting at part of the story that was missing.

define “healthy”

will he play 140 games in a season again? 120 games? 100?

he averages 84 games per season and played in 85. Is that “healthy”?

the other posters bringing up Rod Carew comp is interesting. Maybe like Rodney, Buck needs to strap on a first baseman’s mitt?

[Doctor Evil]

I would love to be wrong. But he needs to retire and focus on his long term health so he can try to live a happy and semi pain free life. He is such a great player and fans just love him. 

[Castinofan]

It seems Buxton's knee problems the past two seasons started shortly after he devoted his off- season to  a special sprinting-speed running program to get even faster. Did they overdo it? Did he get injured then and not tell anyone?  Was that program approved by the club and its insurerer? 

[IaBeanCounter]

I don't expect Buxton to be back this year, unless he comes back for the playoffs, ala Kirk Gibson.  I do believe he can be back next year after another surgery.  Lewis came back after 2 knee surgeries.  

[PatPfund]

1 hour ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Looks like we are going to fire another trainer for not keeping our number one player healthy ...

I would also fire the surgeon who botched the knee surgery and if he has another surgery  , have a different  surgeon  do the procedure  and have a quality control guy looking over his shoulder ...

Can anyone remember  a player so fragile ????   , John castino's  career ended with injuries after 5 years ....

Baseball is full of players whose careers are cut short by injury; one of them manages the Twins. Rocco was a young star, who lost a season-plus to a torn ACL followed by a torn UCL, and then was constantly on the IL with muscular issues complicated with mitochondrial and Lyme issues until he was forced to retire at age 28.

None of us know for sure whether Byron will ever again approach his original potential, because none of us actually knows what the bleep is going on with his knee/back/hamstrings/hip. But all indicators (like the fact his knee feels better until he uses it) seem to point to a chronic knee injury, and it may be the sort that surgery can't fix.

Clearly, though, this season is pretty much toast. He just had a knee setback with just a few weeks left to go (and even less in the minors for a rehab stint), and the team has better/healthier options at DH. Let him try to recover, shut it down if/when it is clear he can't help this year, and figure out the best plan for his off-season. (Personally, I'm bummed, but never really expect to see him be the "old" Buxton again. Dude once scored from second on a ground-ball to SS; dang, he was amazing!)

[jrod23]

I won't ever fault a player for cashing in.  That being said, 7 years on Buxton just won't happen.  It won't.  He knows it.  It's unfortunate because he's a competitor at the highest level and we all have seen what he does when he's on and healthy.  If you could somehow rework his contract into a Bobby Bonilla type retirement deal, please do.  Give him $3 million a year over the next 30 years...if that's even a possible thing...and ONLY if he were to hang it up.  Or we just eat the $14.5 million a year over the next 6.  A front office, a team, and a fanbase wants to be able to count on players.  Buxton is about the opposite of dependable when it comes to being on the field.

Sucks because no one wants him back on the field more than himself.

[JD-TWINS]

5 hours ago, PDX Twin said:

Thanks. Disappointing how high the base is relative to the add-ons. I remembered it being a little more incentive-laden But I guess he had a lot of leverage and this is what his agent would accept. 

Sunk cost, I'm afraid. But added to the sunk cost of the Correa contract, it's a lot of deadwood money for a franchise that considers itself to be relatively low-budget. We'd better hope that the kids all turn out to be stars!

CC has a foot injury - he where’s a heating pad or a brace around his lower back while in the dugout. He plays a solid SS! He’s 29, with a good track record. I do not see Correa as dead money.

Buxton may be?

[Rosterman]

we can cycle more people thru DH, if necessary. Or, at somepoint, make movement towards a fulltime centerfielder.

And what will be the future of Correa. At what point does he move from shortstop to..where. Third base? Second abse?

[terrydactyls]

No new information but another "can Buxton stay healthy" article.  Why worry about something that you have no influence over?  Move along, folks.  Nothing to see here.

[RickOShea]

With the tremendous amount of time not in the lineup, and the multitude of 'injuries', I'm thinking this is just not a physical issue.  I believe a player's mental health issues can be just as debilitating as the player's physical health.  Too much time is maybe spent on physical rehab versus mental rehab and preparation.

This is only conjecture on my part, but I think it should be considered.  Buxton may have issues that are far greater than just his physical status.

[Rik19753]

I think you rest him until the last possible moment and (hopefully) unleash him in the playoffs. If he can't play, that's fine, our team isn't reliant on him anymore.

Maybe next year they can just shut him down until he is absolutely needed, whether that be to fight for the division in August or for the playoffs in October. Given his lack of durability, I wouldn't be opposed to sitting him for the entire regular season, then activating him for the playoff run. Obviously that is never going to happen, but if one were to try to maximize the Twins' odds of winning the World Series and not of obtaining a winning season, that would be the best plan.

[William K Johnson]

If he can't provide more than he has provided this season, I say shut him down, fix the knee and try it again next season.

[MABB1959]

7 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

No new information but another "can Buxton stay healthy" article.  Why worry about something that you have no influence over?  Move along, folks.  Nothing to see here.

Maybe a little therapy for us.  

[terrydactyls]

1 hour ago, MABB1959 said:

Maybe a little therapy for us.  

That's what alcohol is for.

[Trov]

To answer the article question, NO, he will never be fully healthy or play a full season in CF.  

[Whitey333]

 Buxton should be shut down until 2024.  If he can't play next year they need to move kn from him.  He's toast as they say.  He should not  even allowed to play this year anymore and further injure his knee and all his other fragile body parts.  We don't need another automatic out in the lineup with playoffs coming.  We already have Gallo.  Any decision to put Buxton, and for that matter too Gallo on the playoff roster should result in serious question about the sanity and overall ability of this front office to do their job.  Go Twins!!!

[DJL44]

14 hours ago, Reptevia said:

They would be absolute fools to put him on the playoff roster. 

Why? If he gets injured he can be replaced.

[Woof Bronzer]

11 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

CC has a foot injury - he where’s a heating pad or a brace around his lower back while in the dugout. He plays a solid SS! He’s 29, with a good track record. I do not see Correa as dead money.

Buxton may be?

He's wearing a back brace for a foot injury?  

[Aerodeliria]

17 hours ago, PDX Twin said:

It's probably time to read the fine print of his long contract. I don't remember the details and I'm too lazy to do the research.

I remember that he gets paid a lot more if he plays a lot. I don't remember if DH vs. defense plays into that. 

Are there opt-outs or buy-outs built in? Or are the Twins on the hook for $10m/year or so for a long time?

Good questions!

[Aerodeliria]

14 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Looks like we are going to fire another trainer for not keeping our number one player healthy ...

I would also fire the surgeon who botched the knee surgery and if he has another surgery  , have a different  surgeon  do the procedure  and have a quality control guy looking over his shoulder ...

Can anyone remember  a player so fragile ????   , John castino's  career ended with injuries after 5 years ....

Jacoby Ellsbury....same position...same potential...same kind of contract...all of the problems...

[Jeff K]

18 hours ago, Karbo said:

IMO they should leave him on IL until he can go full tilt for a week or two. Probably won't be available for post season, but that's better than having him take up a spot with little to no production!

I really love watching Byron Buxton when he is healthy.  His athleticism is a thing of beauty and his 5 skill package is incredible.  Sadly, another season has passed him by.  Unless he miraculously becomes healthy and can contribute, I hope the Twins leave him on the injured list for the remainder of the season and post season.  Don't mess up a good thing.  With that in mind, I assume the Twins have insurance on Buck's contract.  I'm not sure he is going to be viable again.  Makes me sad for all of us.

[MABB1959]

34 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

I really love watching Byron Buxton when he is healthy.  His athleticism is a thing of beauty and his 5 skill package is incredible.  Sadly, another season has passed him by.  Unless he miraculously becomes healthy and can contribute, I hope the Twins leave him on the injured list for the remainder of the season and post season.  Don't mess up a good thing.  With that in mind, I assume the Twins have insurance on Buck's contract.  I'm not sure he is going to be viable again.  Makes me sad for all of us.

Well said, time for him to worry about long term health.  He should have enough money to last him a lifetime, but it will be hard to walk-away.

[jkcarew]

I’m done worrying about Buxton. The “Buxton” that everyone imagines doesn’t exist, and has NEVER existed. He’s never been a good player over the coarse of a full season or anything close to a full season. His ‘fullest’ seasons have been mediocre at best offensively.

I wish him the best health-wise. From a baseball perspective, the Twins have to move on. Find a CF, and a DH…if things work out, Buxton can be a depth piece, but he should never assume a larger role in how this team plans to move forward.

[insagt1]

He had from near the end of last season all the way to April to 'heal' and it didn't happen. they could shut him down again for the same period of time and it probably won't help. I don't think he will ever be healthy enough to play the way he and we expect. 

I lean towards his career being over, unless we see some major change.

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Aerodeliria said:

Jacoby Ellsbury....same position...same potential...same kind of contract...all of the problems...

Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia 'wouldn't have' had knee surgery after 2017 season - ESPN