Byron Buxton Makes It Clear: No More Rebuilds in Minnesota

[NYCTK]

15 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

No people are upset about a Met fan constantly coming to a Twins site to troll. Consider this a warning to tone it down or start earning infractions.

A fan of TWO teams? Literally impossible. 

[LastOnePicked]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

You SELL the rotation, your 1 good BAT, and the prospects like Keaschall, K-Pepper, Jenkins, and Rodriguez to season ticket holders.

Doc, that's just not enough, is it? That wouldn't get anybody I know to buy Twins season tickets. One of the worst rotations in baseball, an oft-injured CF, and a handful of magic bean prospects? No thank you.

There's nothing to market because this is a nothing team. I don't fault ownership for realizing that - I fault ownership for not understanding how they created this nothing team. They stuck with a weak manager, their player development is far below average and they don't draft or trade particularly well.

This is a total system failure unlike the two previous total system failures. This one is going to take 3-5 years to dig out from, at least. 

[shimrod]

3 hours ago, ashbury said:

thus doubling down on the "Twin For Life" remarks he made during the All-Star break.  Now, a month later, something has changed.

What changed is the traded players were replaced with AAAA players discarded by contenders. If we had cleared the decks to give opportunity to our top prospects you could see a path to relevancy. Now it's clear the deadline was a straight up salary dump. 

[Doc Lenz]

10 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

What is the front office supposed to communicate (or any other business not selling stock) about their plans? What franchises lay out in one season “what the off-season plan is” for the business/franchise? None, or awfully few, from my viewpoint.

If there are still crickets in December…….let em have it!!! Until then, they need time to sort things and target specific guys to try and trade for, or sign as FA’s. Pro sports teams don’t expose plans - targeted players - it just isn’t done. Can’t say “we’re going to spend $45M in free agency” ……. agents will eat that up & leverage disappears.

They may or may not do well nor what the “fans want”? We’ll see. Deciding they should tell all, in September, doesn’t make sense!

From my point of view, again here at TD, the group that threw in $400M have to have some caveats attached to their cash infusion!! STATUS QUO ……..on roster, spending, marketing………isn’t in the cards.

Refreshing to see realism here. Amazing to see so many expert opinions and 8 ball forecasts. No one knows let’s wait and find out together.

[DocBauer]

4 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

Doc, that's just not enough, is it? That wouldn't get anybody I know to buy Twins season tickets. One of the worst rotations in baseball, an oft-injured CF, and a handful of magic bean prospects? No thank you.

There's nothing to market because this is a nothing team. I don't fault ownership for realizing that - I fault ownership for not understanding how they created this nothing team. They stuck with a weak manager, their player development is far below average and they don't draft or trade particularly well.

This is a total system failure unlike the two previous total system failures. This one is going to take 3-5 years to dig out from, at least. 

I just can't disagree with almost anything you said. I wish I could. What the Twins need more than anything is HOPE. 

A new ownership would go a long way towards that, but it's not going to happen for another year or two.

I'm pretty neutral on Rocco. I'd really like to see what he could do with a more well rounded player roster. By his own admission his first couple of seasons was just turn in a lineup card and make a couple pen moves. 

Again, I'm pretty neutral on him. He's done some good things, and some poor things. I think he's actually grown as a manger.  And he comes from an aggressive organization in Tampa. I wouldn't mind seeing him have a more balanced team of hit/power/speed that the Twins are moving towards.

But I'd also be OK if they went a different direction. 

Maybe when I talk about "selling the team" for fan interest I'm overstating my opinion.  BUT, new manager or not. Lewis and Lee getting their crap together, Wallner having a full and healthy season, Buxton healthy and having an amazing season, some TOP prospects arrived and close to arriving, and NOT trading Lopez or Ryan has to offer SOME hope doesn't it?

[LastOnePicked]

47 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I'm pretty neutral on Rocco. I'd really like to see what he could do with a more well rounded player roster. By his own admission his first couple of seasons was just turn in a lineup card and make a couple pen moves. 

I really respect you, and you're one of my favorite TD posters to read ... but I just cannot for the life of me understand how Baldelli continues to get such a pass from the fans here.

He's been given the top payroll in the AL Central, a farm system that's often been in the top ten, he's been gifted rosters that have routinely been picked by preseason pundits and WAR-calculators to win the AL Central. And what does he have to show for it? Two postseason wins against a very weak Blue Jays team. Otherwise, a legacy of let downs and epic collapses. 

The Twins under Baldelli continually falter, flounder and fold under pressure. Team culture under his "leadership" is probably the worst I've ever seen. I just do not and cannot understand why people aren't screaming for his immediate removal as manager. Is it that he's a nice guy? Is it that management and ownership are so dreadful that he almost looks competent by comparison? I just don't get it.

He is not a good MLB manager. We have more than enough evidence to make this judgement by now. 

[Western SD Fan]

For those of you who think that Buxton isn't committed to winning, let's take a stroll down memory lane.

1.  Buxton was one of the players who helped convince Correa to sign with the Twins in 2022.  I will agree with many of you that the Correa era in Minnesota was underwhelming.  At the time, it was a great surprise to many in MLB circles that Correa signed with the Twins and Buxton was helpful in getting him signed.

2.  2023:  It really looked like everything finally came together and by winning the playoff series, it really was looking like a window had opened up for the Twins.  The response of "right-sizing" the organization was a gut punch, but even after that, it appeared that the Twins were at least competitive.

3.  2024:  The FO thought, poorly, that they had the horses on the ML roster and in AAA to replace Sonny Gray, or someone to Gray's caliber.  For 4 months, this team looked competitive.  Then Ryan goes down and the AAA pitchers weren't up to the task.  The offense forgot how to score, and the collapse happened.  The team was competitive until the last few weeks of the season.  That's bad luck and bad FO planning, not Buxton's unwillingness to win.

4.  All-Star Break 2025:  Buxton is asked about potentially being traded.  He reasserted his loyalty to the Twins fans and his no-trade clause.  Why were you expecting a different answer than what he gave?  He's the most nationally recognized member of the Twins at the All-Star game.  As of the All-Star Break, the Twins were 47-49 and 4 games back from the WC with a favorable schedule ahead of the trade deadline.  Buxton would have no reason to say anything than what he said at the All-Star Game.

5.  2025 Trade Deadline:  One thing to remember was that it took a few days for Buxton to make a statement to the media and that he was actually on the road trip to Cleveland when he was on the IL, a rare instance for a player on the IL looking to come back very soon.  I would surmise that Falvey had conversations with Buxton near or after the trade deadline explaining what Falvey thought their plan for 2026 was and how Falvey was going to achieve it.  Again, soon after the deadline, Buxton was asked about a potential trade and Buxton reiterated that he has a full no-trade clause and wants to be a Twin for life.  Again, I ask you.  What do you expect him to say?  He was just asked the same question less than three weeks before that.  I also believe that Buxton has a better grip on the tone of the fanbase than the FO or the ownership dreams of having.  He is the face of the franchise and needed to reassure the fans that he wasn't leaving.

What has changed since that interview in early August?  Well, a lot.  He can now see the returns from the trades and how it has affected the team, not only now, but for the recent future.  He also sees that he is currently having one of the best seasons of his career.  As injury prone as Buxton has been, he may not be sure how many of these seasons he has left in him, and he is correct to call out the FO and ownership that he doesn't want to waste these seasons on a poorly run, rebuilding team.  I can also see that he is preparing himself for an upcoming leak that he is ready to break his no-trade clause and is willing to be traded to the five teams written into his contract for 2027-2028 a year earlier in 2026.  He's getting out front of that rumor by stating that he wants to win and if the organization writ large (FO and ownership) doesn't want to win, then he wants to go somewhere where they are willing to win.  I don't see any problem with that sentiment, and I see many fans would be with him in that sentiment, as sad as it may see to watch him leave the organization as he would be one of the few draws left for the next couple of years.

Finally, I'll ask the question in this manner.  Have you questioned Mike Trout whether he is committed to winning although he has stayed in Anaheim his entire career?  What about Miguel Cabera in Detroit?  What about Salvador Perez in Kansas City?  Some may say that Salvy won his WS, but that was 10 years ago.  Surely, he should have moved on when it came to a KC rebuild because he wants to win.  Mike Trout in Anaheim has made sure that the FO is at least appearing like they are trying to put a winning team around him, although poorly executed.  The idea the Buxton doesn't want to win seems silly at best..

 

Edited September 11, 2025 by Western SD Fan
Added last paragraph

[Doctor Wu]

16 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

The minority owners probably haven't been MLB approved yet.

What sort of process is this? And how long does it take?

[Doctor Wu]

7 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

The Twins under Baldelli continually falter, flounder and fold under pressure. Team culture under his "leadership" is probably the worst I've ever seen

Very good reasons to start looking for a new manager as soon as this season ends. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he already signed an extension for next season, but it wouldn't be the first contract the team ate. With all the current upheaval going on, I think getting a new manager should be one of the off-season priorities. 

[Riverbrian]

If you don't mind... please take a moment and step into your time machine and go back to September 2018. 

You'll notice that Twinsdaily was filled with posts from posters who were sure that Byron Buxton was upset and gone over service time when he wasn't called up in September. 

Apparently we have no problem jumping to similar conclusions 7 years later. 

 

[JD-TWINS]

21 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Like Buxton said, he has been around. He has seen a lot of mistakes. He knows Falvey. IMO, Buck is saying no matter how miserably others fail. He will continue to do his part to try to jump-start this team to win games. He's all about winning. Once in a while, a player falls into Falvey's lap, but the majority of the time & especially recently, Falvey has failed to encourage the core who want to win by trading for someone significant to fill the holes. Nothing will change & will only get worse. Falvey has placed a shotgun to the team & riddled it full of holes that he cannot begin to plug easily. Nothing will change until you make a real change. Will Buck want to be traded if nothing changes? I don't think so, but I wouldn't blame him.

Nothing will change & it will only get worse……🙁

Seems a little dark.

FULL rotation in ‘26 - right?

Young arms to fill 5 spots in PEN along with a couple FA’s. (Adams - Abel, 3 outs at a time?) Prielipp - Raya & a few other possibilities.

Need to acquire Catching depth that’s “ready” and not prospect. This can be trade or FA. Certainly doable……probably not perfect.

1B via FA.

OF ………. Larnach - Wallner - Outman - Buxton - Martin - Gonzalez - Rodriguez - Jenkins ……, I think they can win with this group.

Do they make Castro an offer….,is he a positive? Certainly not too costly.

I just don’t see the Club as being that bad.

They give up 12 runs every 4/5 days now and lose a tight game every 4/5 days…….. ALL due to 4-5 guys in the PEN not being MLB caliber OR guys that can pitch, being used too often or exposed to too many hitters due to NO options.

TEAMS that are 3-8 games above .500 are still in the Playoff hunt on September 11th - pretty attainable bar - one that can be quickly surpassed with some tweaks.

Need 2 - FA position signings and 2 PEN signings via FA………..possible to trade for talent but it’s seldom for MLB ready guys & that’s what’s needed.

Nobody that has $400M to put into a concern is going to be good with status quo and $100M payroll in MLB…….something positive will happen……..no guarantees it will work.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, Doctor Wu said:

What sort of process is this? And how long does it take?

Seems they need to be approved prior to transaction - right? Maybe they were part of a group to acquire all control and then split off? Maybe they do not need to be approved if they are not “controlling” interest?

[JD-TWINS]

9 hours ago, Western SD Fan said:

For those of you who think that Buxton isn't committed to winning, let's take a stroll down memory lane.

1.  Buxton was one of the players who helped convince Correa to sign with the Twins in 2022.  I will agree with many of you that the Correa era in Minnesota was underwhelming.  At the time, it was a great surprise to many in MLB circles that Correa signed with the Twins and Buxton was helpful in getting him signed.

2.  2023:  It really looked like everything finally came together and by winning the playoff series, it really was looking like a window had opened up for the Twins.  The response of "right-sizing" the organization was a gut punch, but even after that, it appeared that the Twins were at least competitive.

3.  2024:  The FO thought, poorly, that they had the horses on the ML roster and in AAA to replace Sonny Gray, or someone to Gray's caliber.  For 4 months, this team looked competitive.  Then Ryan goes down and the AAA pitchers weren't up to the task.  The offense forgot how to score, and the collapse happened.  The team was competitive until the last few weeks of the season.  That's bad luck and bad FO planning, not Buxton's unwillingness to win.

4.  All-Star Break 2025:  Buxton is asked about potentially being traded.  He reasserted his loyalty to the Twins fans and his no-trade clause.  Why were you expecting a different answer than what he gave?  He's the most nationally recognized member of the Twins at the All-Star game.  As of the All-Star Break, the Twins were 47-49 and 4 games back from the WC with a favorable schedule ahead of the trade deadline.  Buxton would have no reason to say anything than what he said at the All-Star Game.

5.  2025 Trade Deadline:  One thing to remember was that it took a few days for Buxton to make a statement to the media and that he was actually on the road trip to Cleveland when he was on the IL, a rare instance for a player on the IL looking to come back very soon.  I would surmise that Falvey had conversations with Buxton near or after the trade deadline explaining what Falvey thought their plan for 2026 was and how Falvey was going to achieve it.  Again, soon after the deadline, Buxton was asked about a potential trade and Buxton reiterated that he has a full no-trade clause and wants to be a Twin for life.  Again, I ask you.  What do you expect him to say?  He was just asked the same question less than three weeks before that.  I also believe that Buxton has a better grip on the tone of the fanbase than the FO or the ownership dreams of having.  He is the face of the franchise and needed to reassure the fans that he wasn't leaving.

What has changed since that interview in early August?  Well, a lot.  He can now see the returns from the trades and how it has affected the team, not only now, but for the recent future.  He also sees that he is currently having one of the best seasons of his career.  As injury prone as Buxton has been, he may not be sure how many of these seasons he has left in him, and he is correct to call out the FO and ownership that he doesn't want to waste these seasons on a poorly run, rebuilding team.  I can also see that he is preparing himself for an upcoming leak that he is ready to break his no-trade clause and is willing to be traded to the five teams written into his contract for 2027-2028 a year earlier in 2026.  He's getting out front of that rumor by stating that he wants to win and if the organization writ large (FO and ownership) doesn't want to win, then he wants to go somewhere where they are willing to win.  I don't see any problem with that sentiment, and I see many fans would be with him in that sentiment, as sad as it may see to watch him leave the organization as he would be one of the few draws left for the next couple of years.

Finally, I'll ask the question in this manner.  Have you questioned Mike Trout whether he is committed to winning although he has stayed in Anaheim his entire career?  What about Miguel Cabera in Detroit?  What about Salvador Perez in Kansas City?  Some may say that Salvy won his WS, but that was 10 years ago.  Surely, he should have moved on when it came to a KC rebuild because he wants to win.  Mike Trout in Anaheim has made sure that the FO is at least appearing like they are trying to put a winning team around him, although poorly executed.  The idea the Buxton doesn't want to win seems silly at best..

 

EVERYONE wants to win! Don’t understand why anyone would debate this bottom line premise? ……… loyalty (possibly to a fault), family wishes, and fear of the unknown can cripple anyone’s desire to make a move in any career. He’s human and not just an athlete.

Organization has backed the guy heavily & he’s being applauded for surpassing 100 games in back to back seasons. There’s been give and take in the relationship.

[Woof Bronzer]

17 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Simply put, you don’t trade away your top 5 relievers if you intend to compete the following year. 

The weird thing is though can you really call it a rebuild if you don't trade away any of your top 5 players?

[Chembry]

FWIW-Derek Falvey is on record saying his focus going into 2026 is with a rotation led by Pablo and Ryan.  This was said in August in an article in the athletic.  

Here is a direct quote from the article:

“I look at a Pablo López- and Joe Ryan-led pitching group,” Falvey said. “With guys like Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, David Festa and Simeon Woods Richardson behind, with all of these other young players like Taj Bradley, Mick Abel and a kid named Kendry Rojas, who’s not quite there.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6573800/2025/08/27/twins-starting-pitching-depth-options-2026/

Obviously, this can change between now and spring training.  I don't expect Falvey to say any different, but at least he is on record saying a rotation led by Pablo and Ryan.

[Woof Bronzer]

2 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

What sort of process is this? And how long does it take?

As far as I know the Pohlads have never used the phrase "minority owner" but "limited partnership group".  I'm skeptical the Pohlads would give anyone a share of their family business.  I suspect the partners are investors who are paying off the debt for a handsome return, not minority owners.  The debt was the main reason the Pohlads couldn't sell so that's their priority.

Regardless I think fans expecting these limited partners to make any meaningful positive impact on the on-field product are bound for disappointment...if anything the partners will ensure that the Pohlads run bare bones payrolls until they make the partners whole.  

[Jeff K]

10 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

I really respect you, and you're one of my favorite TD posters to read ... but I just cannot for the life of me understand how Baldelli continues to get such a pass from the fans here.

He's been given the top payroll in the AL Central, a farm system that's often been in the top ten, he's been gifted rosters that have routinely been picked by preseason pundits and WAR-calculators to win the AL Central. And what does he have to show for it? Two postseason wins against a very weak Blue Jays team. Otherwise, a legacy of let downs and epic collapses. 

The Twins under Baldelli continually falter, flounder and fold under pressure. Team culture under his "leadership" is probably the worst I've ever seen. I just do not and cannot understand why people aren't screaming for his immediate removal as manager. Is it that he's a nice guy? Is it that management and ownership are so dreadful that he almost looks competent by comparison? I just don't get it.

He is not a good MLB manager. We have more than enough evidence to make this judgement by now. 

Same for me Doc.  Baldelli has shown all to frequently that he doesn't trust his eyes and manages soley by his spread sheet.  His sudden "discovery" of aggressive base running is sad.  Sad in that it took so long and one of his assistants to talk him into it.  Next thing  you know, he might discover the value of playing players at their best positions.  

[Maybebaby]

Good for Buck to tell it like it is.  Wish him the best if he pivots and moves on, many like myself will remain fans/followers.  Might be best for him to jump ship before the Titanics hits bottom!

[RpR]

On 9/11/2025 at 9:02 AM, Jeff K said:

Same for me Doc.  Baldelli has shown all to frequently that he doesn't trust his eyes and manages soley by his spread sheet.  His sudden "discovery" of aggressive base running is sad.  Sad in that it took so long and one of his assistants to talk him into it.  Next thing  you know, he might discover the value of playing players at their best positions.  

He had nothing to lose; at that, we do not know, in spite of some stuff written here, what transpires behind Twins closed doors, it might not have been his idea.

[Doctor Wu]

On 9/11/2025 at 8:39 PM, Woof Bronzer said:

Regardless I think fans expecting these limited partners to make any meaningful positive impact on the on-field product are bound for disappointment...if anything the partners will ensure that the Pohlads run bare bones payrolls until they make the partners whole. 

I think that's a fair analysis.

[JD-TWINS]

On 9/10/2025 at 12:43 PM, Woof Bronzer said:

Most businesses have plans, and successful ones usually share them with the employees affected by the plans.  Just flailing away without any plan, or with a plan you hold secret from everyone, is a recipe for disaster for any business.  

The Twins shared their plan with Correa at the deadline, so I'm not sure why it's unreasonable to expect them to share the plan with the face of the franchise.  The Twins plan last off season was to hold tight because Falvey thought this team was really good and last year was just a fluke.  Not a good plan, in my opinion, but a plan.  

There is truly no need to carry water for the Pohlads and FO.  

My comment was, if they haven’t shared a plan forward or made real moves by December, “let them have it”………Am not “carrying water” for an ownership family I can’t stand. Am being realistic.

The Timberwolves don’t share their player strategy - nor do the other 2 franchises in the Twin Cities, so why would the baseball Team?… P&G doesn’t share their strategic moves with thousands of employees…….. The Board knows and some leaders of divisions……..the rank & file aren’t apprised of strategic moves until they are ready to be marketed.

With a piss poor ownership group that reduces spending from ‘23, TWICE in the following 2 seasons, particularly after committing $35M/yr to one guy………it makes it pretty difficult for ANYONE sitting in the GM/President seat……so blaming Falvey can be justified in some specific cases but the REAL blame lies with the ownership.

None of the blame placing means that anyone “owes the fans, nor Byron Buxton, or any player” a map of what they think they are planning to do going forward. Correa had a no trade so “to dump his salary amidst the process of giving up in ‘25” they had to have a discussion with him - not because they think he’s some super wise soul nor because they owed him anything. They wanted him to do them a favor.