How Twins Ownership May Have Broken Byron Buxton’s Moral Code

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Byron Buxton has never wavered when it comes to his feelings about the Minnesota Twins. He was asked at the All-Star Game, following the trade deadline, and after the team struggled down the stretch. He told anyone who would listen that he was a Twin for life. He refused to entertain trade rumors, insisting that he wanted to win in Minnesota. Even after the club dealt 10 players at the trade deadline, including several teammates he had grown close to, Buxton publicly held firm. To him, the jersey matters as much as the name on the back.

For the first time, that unshakable loyalty may be cracking. According to reporting from The Athletic’s Dan Hayes, a major-league source indicated that Buxton may be reconsidering his no-trade stance if the Twins continue breaking apart their core.

“Buxton, who turns 32 next month, wants to play for a winner,” Hayes wrote, suggesting that even the two-time All-Star’s patience has limits. With three years and $45 million remaining on his contract, and full no-trade protection, the idea that he would even consider leaving speaks volumes about where the organization stands.

Ironically, this moment of doubt comes just after Buxton turned in the best season of his career. After years of injuries and limited playing time, he finally stayed on the field long enough to remind everyone why he’s been considered one of the most dynamic players in baseball. In the last week, he won his first Silver Slugger, and on Thursday, he has a chance to receive down-ballot AL MVP consideration. 

With Buxton healthy and productive, his trade value may never be higher. There are front offices across baseball that would jump at the chance to add a player with his skill set and leadership qualities, especially if they believe his health has turned a corner. That makes the current situation even more complicated for Minnesota. Trading him now could bring back a significant return, but it would also signal that the Twins are ready to reset their identity completely.

A Reflection of Ownership
If Buxton is truly reconsidering his loyalty to the Twins, it is less an indictment of him and more a reflection on the organization that let things reach this point. The Twins have long marketed themselves as a team built on relationships, culture, and stability. But when ownership signals an unwillingness to sustain payroll or invest in a winning roster, even the most committed players begin to lose faith.

Team president Derek Falvey recently spoke about his approach to communicating with players amid uncertainty.

“My view is you always want to be transparent and open with your players about where you’re headed and what it looks like, just like we were after the deadline,” Falvey said. “I’ve talked to Byron and other players through this offseason already about ways we can get better as a team. With Shelty coming in, you can already tell there’s a little bit of fresh ideas brewing around how do we make the team the best it can be, no matter who’s on the roster at that moment in time? My focus will continue to be on ways we can put players around the players that are on our roster and not subtract from it.”

It is a reassuring sentiment, but one that rings hollow after a summer defined by subtraction. The players who remain—especially veterans like Buxton—have seen firsthand how quickly things can change. When ownership decides that financial flexibility matters more than roster continuity, even the strongest bonds begin to fray.

Buxton has spent his entire career representing what the Twins claim to value most: loyalty, effort, and belief in the team’s long-term vision. To make a player like that question his future says something profound about the current state of the franchise. It suggests that the front office’s decisions and ownership’s indifference have eroded the trust of their most loyal star.

Buxton’s potential willingness to waive his no-trade clause is more than a transaction rumor. It is a warning sign. For years, he stood as the embodiment of what it meant to be a Minnesota Twin. If even Buxton is starting to look elsewhere for hope, then maybe the organization needs to take a hard look at what it has become and who it is pushing away in the process.

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Will the Twins consider trading Buxton this winter? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[thelanges5]

Bad organization from the top down. This is disheartening. 

[Nshore]

When Buxton started out, he and Sano were to be the foundation of turning the be Twins into a consistent winner.  As it turned out Sano wasn't good, and  Buxton couldn't stay on the field - so the Twins didn't win.   In spite of that, Buxton scored a 100 million dollar contract, which he probably wouldn't have gotten anywhere else.  Now he has a good year and maybe wants to jump ship because the team isn't a winner.  The "moral code" thing makes me a little nauseous.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Just sell the team. We've heard enough from the Pohlad's over the last 34 years and enough of the company line from Falvey.

[Rufus]

'

Oh go away, are you that hard up for things toe write about?  So tired of the negativity 

[KirbyDome89]

"If even Buxton is starting to look elsewhere for hope, then maybe the organization needs to take a hard look at what it has become and who it is pushing away in the process."

We're way beyond the point that this org should begin to self reflect. Things don't get this bad via pure incompetence; the apathy from the top down is palpable. 

[KirbyDome89]

6 minutes ago, Rufus said:

'

Oh go away, are you that hard up for things toe write about?  So tired of the negativity 

The best player (by a long shot) on the team is reportedly considering waiving his no trade clause and that's not news worthy? 

[tony&rodney]

"With Shelty coming in, you can already tell there’s a little bit of fresh ideas brewing around how do we make the team the best it can be, no matter who’s on the roster at that moment in time? My focus will continue to be on ways we can put players around the players that are on our roster and not subtract from it.”

Am I the only one who is baffled by an inability to communicate by this fellow? How do you add to a full roster without subtracting from it?

Why not ... some vague, "We are looking at all facets of our organization, talking with every team, and looking over what free agents can contribute to our squad. We plan to be better." 

Byron is in his last year of the no trade contract but he may have reached or be near the 5 and 10 year rule needing his permission to be traded. If he wants to play for a winner, he better speak up soon. Is he willing to play in New York, Detroit, Milwaukee, or elsewhere? Nobody should blame him if he asks to be traded.

Fair criticism and specific frustrations that also include possible positive remedies are a voice for engaged fans of sports. Returning the same product again and again deserves an opinion. The alternative is giving up on the team which is what many people have already done based on attendance and even the quantity of comments on this site.

[IndianaTwin]

13 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

With Shelty coming in, you can already tell there’s a little bit of fresh ideas brewing around how do we make the team the best it can be, no matter who’s on the roster at that moment in time? My focus will continue to be on ways we can put players around the players that are on our roster and not subtract from it.”

Am I the only one who is baffled by an inability to communicate by this fellow? How do you add to a full roster without subtracting from it?

Why not ... some vague, "We are looking at all facets of our organization, talking with every team, and looking over what free agents can contribute to our squad. We plan to be better." 

Byron is in his last year of the no trade contract but he may have reached or be near the 5 and 10 year rule needing his permission to be traded. If he wants to play for a winner, he better speak up soon. Is he willing to play in New York, Detroit, Milwaukee, or elsewhere? Nobody should blame him if he asks to be traded.

Fair criticism and specific frustrations that also include possible positive remedies are a voice for engaged fans of sports. Returning the same product again and again deserves an opinion. The alternative is giving up on the team which is what many people have already done based on attendance and even the quantity of comments on this site.

How about this, from the same Dan Hayes article...

 

Even though the team’s payroll and general direction remain unclear as Twins are set to add two limited partnerships to their ownership group, Falvey said Tuesday he doesn’t want to further tear apart the club’s roster.

While acknowledging he’s actively listening to all teams’ trade concepts to determine the best direction for his club, the Twins president wants to build around a roster featuring Buxton and fellow All-Stars Ryan and López if he can.

“I remain personally committed to figuring out what are the ways we can add to this group to make it better,” Falvey said from the general managers meetings. “That is my goal. It was my stated goal before and remains my stated goal until I’m told otherwise. … My focus for now is figuring out ways we can add to the group.”

 

 

[tony&rodney]

1 minute ago, IndianaTwin said:

How about this, from the same Dan Hayes article...

 

Even though the team’s payroll and general direction remain unclear as Twins are set to add two limited partnerships to their ownership group, Falvey said Tuesday he doesn’t want to further tear apart the club’s roster.

While acknowledging he’s actively listening to all teams’ trade concepts to determine the best direction for his club, the Twins president wants to build around a roster featuring Buxton and fellow All-Stars Ryan and López if he can.

“I remain personally committed to figuring out what are the ways we can add to this group to make it better,” Falvey said from the general managers meetings. “That is my goal. It was my stated goal before and remains my stated goal until I’m told otherwise. … My focus for now is figuring out ways we can add to the group.”

 

 

Yes, I read that in The Athletic. When you "add to this group" I'm thinking there may also need to be some subtraction. 

I have stated in other places, I remain hopeful that the front office can change it's past practices of rolling out the same basic team. My patience after the last two offseasons is a bit short. We saw the current roster's skills in August and September. I'm hopeful of change which means additions AND subtractions.

[PDX Twin]

27 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

With Shelty coming in

Sorry, but this team needs much more than a miniature collie...

[IndianaTwin]

15 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Yes, I read that in The Athletic. When you "add to this group" I'm thinking there may also need to be some subtraction. 

I have stated in other places, I remain hopeful that the front office can change it's past practices of rolling out the same basic team. My patience after the last two offseasons is a bit short. We saw the current roster's skills in August and September. I'm hopeful of change which means additions AND subtractions.

At the level they have signed free agents recently, you don't know for sure whether you are getting Michael A. Taylor or Carlos Santana vs. Joey Gallo, but they have had some definite hits in the mid-market range. I like the thought of Victor Caratini to address the catcher issu. My hope is that the subtractions are prospects (likely OFs without the initials WJ), some of whom could certainly bring additions to the bullpen.

[tony&rodney]

4 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Sorry, but this team needs much more than a miniature collie...

That wasn't from me. It was a quote from Falvey.

[Craig Arko]

19 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Sorry, but this team needs much more than a miniature collie...

Corgi’s, perhaps?

[Parfigliano]

38 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

How about this, from the same Dan Hayes article...

 

Even though the team’s payroll and general direction remain unclear as Twins are set to add two limited partnerships to their ownership group, Falvey said Tuesday he doesn’t want to further tear apart the club’s roster.

While acknowledging he’s actively listening to all teams’ trade concepts to determine the best direction for his club, the Twins president wants to build around a roster featuring Buxton and fellow All-Stars Ryan and López if he can.

“I remain personally committed to figuring out what are the ways we can add to this group to make it better,” Falvey said from the general managers meetings. “That is my goal. It was my stated goal before and remains my stated goal until I’m told otherwise. … My focus for now is figuring out ways we can add to the group.”

 

 

At this point anything from Falvey sounds like Charlie Browns teacher to me.

[rv78]

More BS from Falvey. He says he wants to add to the roster to make it the best it can be. The current state of the roster is less than a 70 win team because 70 wins was with a good bullpen for 4 months of 2025. Without that bullpen it would've been a 60-65 win team. So from 2019 to 2025 Falvey has taken this team from being a 101 win team to a 70 win team and made it even worse by tearing down the bullpen. If anyone, including Buxton, believes Falvey is capable of adding players to make this team the best it can be, then you'd better get use to 60-70 wins as being the best he can do, because that where he's taken the team to.

[sweetmusicviola16]

20 minutes ago, Craig Arko said:

Corgi’s, perhaps?

Lets go with a Mastiff. They're at least hungry.

[The Great Hambino]

58 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

How about this, from the same Dan Hayes article...

 

Even though the team’s payroll and general direction remain unclear as Twins are set to add two limited partnerships to their ownership group, Falvey said Tuesday he doesn’t want to further tear apart the club’s roster.

While acknowledging he’s actively listening to all teams’ trade concepts to determine the best direction for his club, the Twins president wants to build around a roster featuring Buxton and fellow All-Stars Ryan and López if he can.

“I remain personally committed to figuring out what are the ways we can add to this group to make it better,” Falvey said from the general managers meetings. “That is my goal. It was my stated goal before and remains my stated goal until I’m told otherwise. … My focus for now is figuring out ways we can add to the group.”

 

 

And there's the rub ... the longer we go with this uncertainty regarding the limited partners and the ultimate budget for the offseason, the more pessimistic the outlook for the budget becomes.  We're not quite to the point in the offseason where this uncertainty almost certainly drives them toward a more cautious, budget-conscious path.  But that point is coming up pretty quick.  It' not ideal if they have to finalize tender/nontender decisions without having the ownership situation resolved, and if the owners meetings come and go without limited partner approval, then it gets really dicey

[TNtwins85]

This is pure speculation. Everyone is just assuming. In the same article Falvey was quoted as hoping to be able to add to the team. So in that are we going to assume that they’re going to sign Kyle Tucker? Maybe Bo Bichette? While we’re at it let’s trade for Ohtani too! I mean, if we’re speculating why don’t we go both ways? Why does it always have to be negative?

[Nashvilletwin]

1 hour ago, IndianaTwin said:

How about this, from the same Dan Hayes article...

 

Even though the team’s payroll and general direction remain unclear as Twins are set to add two limited partnerships to their ownership group, Falvey said Tuesday he doesn’t want to further tear apart the club’s roster.

While acknowledging he’s actively listening to all teams’ trade concepts to determine the best direction for his club, the Twins president wants to build around a roster featuring Buxton and fellow All-Stars Ryan and López if he can.

“I remain personally committed to figuring out what are the ways we can add to this group to make it better,” Falvey said from the general managers meetings. “That is my goal. It was my stated goal before and remains my stated goal until I’m told otherwise. … My focus for now is figuring out ways we can add to the group.”

 

 

If this truly is what Falvey believes and will pursue (i.e. building around Buxton, Ryan, and Lopez), he’s a bigger idiot than most of us believe (if that’s even possible).

So, the new strategy is a halfway rebuild in which we lose 90+ games and get nothing for our biggest assets, all of whom arguably are at their all-time (including the future) peak trade values and won’t be re-signed, before baseball shuts down for a good part or more of ‘27?  That would be the definition of pure GM lunacy.

C’mon, these quotes have to be lip service. There’s no chance that the ‘25 trade deadline massacre happened so that we’d squander the chances to build the best new core coming out of the new CBA.  Even Falvey and the Nephew aren’t that stupid.
 

 Oh, and by the way, there is another reason we know that these quotes are 100% lip service: they hired Shelton.  That’s not the guy you hire to build a nearish term winner (come to think of it, he’s probably not the guy you’d hire under any circumstance)

[rv78]

My focus will continue to be on ways we can put players around the players that are on our roster and not subtract from it.”

It is a reassuring sentiment, but one that rings hollow after a summer defined by subtraction.

What a buffoon. Every year he subtracts and adds, and the new players he adds don't add up to the players he subtracted. That's how you go from 101 wins in 2019 to 70 wins in 2025. His focus has got the team to where it is today. Websters new definition for failure is = falvey.

[Vanimal46]

Congratulations Pohlad family. You have alienated a home grown, star player who wanted to remain a Twin for life. 

This feels like a precursor to a trade... Dan Hayes isn't the type of beat reporter who writes pure speculation without doing a lot of confirmation in the background. Just like when we heard Correa was willing to waive his NTC, and weird! He was traded the next day.

[Riverbrian]

Dear Byron,

I hope you stay! Whenever you decide that your playing days are done. I hope you will have played your entire fantastic career for one team. Your team... My team... the Minnesota Twins.

It will make you special. It will make you one of the few. One of the very few with a long career with one team. Long career... one team... adds up to very few. Select Company of very special baseball players. You know their names. Derek Jeter, George Brett, Chipper Jones, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken. Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett and Joe Mauer. You will be one of those guys... Like I said... Select Company. 

25 will go up on the wall forever... a statue of you in the plaza will be built and remain forever. You can see the statue now... your hand thrust upward right before you are about to pull it down in a show of respect to your father.  

You have built what you built in Minnesota... stay... tend to what you have built. It won't go with you to New York, Los Angeles or anywhere else. What you built is right here. You will be starting over with a new fan base everywhere else.

Minnesota has adopted you. You are home... You are one of us.

In a world of increasing transition, those who stay are the true legends. 

You have a chance to be one of the few. The grass isn't always greener, the team you join could be fighting for air in two years... the future holds no promises. In the end, changing teams is just an increase or decrease of odds but the future holds no promises. 

Nothing is guaranteed in this world other than that statue going up in the plaza. For your future generations to look at. For my future generations to look at. You will belong in that plaza. 

I hope you stay and help us... lead your team mates to where we need to be. 

Sincerely, 

 

Riverbrian 

 

[ashbury]

I've said before, in the context of Buxton, that you build around players of high talent and great character - and that to have such a player tell the team he wants out should be a firing offense for the FO.  I'll modify that a bit to say that if Buxton's dissatisfaction is with ownership too, then the owners and the FO deserve each other.

I hope none of this comes to pass.

[DJL44]

If I was the owner and I got a vote of no confidence from Byron Buxton, I would fire my POBO.

[howeda7]

Keeping the team only to gut it by trading Lopez, Ryan and Buxton and then go into a work stoppage would be so unbelievably dumb I still can't believe that's their plan. They might as well try to break the lease and move at that point. Target Field will be dead. 

[howeda7]

1 hour ago, Nashvilletwin said:

If this truly is what Falvey believes and will pursue (i.e. building around Buxton, Ryan, and Lopez), he’s a bigger idiot than most of us believe (if that’s even possible).

So, the new strategy is a halfway rebuild in which we lose 90+ games and get nothing for our biggest assets, all of whom arguably are at their all-time (including the future) peak trade values and won’t be re-signed, before baseball shuts down for a good part or more of ‘27?  That would be the definition of pure GM lunacy.

C’mon, these quotes have to be lip service. There’s no chance that the ‘25 trade deadline massacre happened so that we’d squander the chances to build the best new core coming out of the new CBA.  Even Falvey and the Nephew aren’t that stupid.
 

 Oh, and by the way, there is another reason we know that these quotes are 100% lip service: they hired Shelton.  That’s not the guy you hire to build a nearish term winner (come to think of it, he’s probably not the guy you’d hire under any circumstance)

The division isn't great. If they will just have a $130-$140 million payroll, they can win the division. You need a closer ($12-15 million) a set-up guy ($6-7) and a lefty ($5) to rebuild the bullpen. Add a mid-grade 1B ($10 million) and a back-up catcher and you have a roster that has a decent chance for ~$130 million. That is what they SHOULD do. You can always trade Ryan or Lopez in July if things go poorly. 

[Nashvilletwin]

35 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

The division isn't great. If they will just have a $130-$140 million payroll, they can win the division. You need a closer ($12-15 million) a set-up guy ($6-7) and a lefty ($5) to rebuild the bullpen. Add a mid-grade 1B ($10 million) and a back-up catcher and you have a roster that has a decent chance for ~$130 million. That is what they SHOULD do. You can always trade Ryan or Lopez in July if things go poorly. 

I appreciate your optimism.  The “let’s see how things go until the summer”might be the actual plan. But there is no chance in Hades the Nephew is coughing up a payroll of $130MM. Zero chance. $70MM would be a better target.

Nah, with that expected approximate payroll the smart move is to sell at peak price (which includes peak cost savings).  So selling sooner rather than later should get the best return and save the most salary.

My wish for Buck is that he does exactly what he wants and what is best for him and his family. He earned our respect and that no trade clause - neither were free. 

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, howeda7 said:

The division isn't great. If they will just have a $130-$140 million payroll, they can win the division. You need a closer ($12-15 million) a set-up guy ($6-7) and a lefty ($5) to rebuild the bullpen. Add a mid-grade 1B ($10 million) and a back-up catcher and you have a roster that has a decent chance for ~$130 million. That is what they SHOULD do. You can always trade Ryan or Lopez in July if things go poorly. 

Ok. That sounds fine. Now put it together and post your team on Brock's GM tool under Twins Talk.

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, howeda7 said:

The division isn't great. If they will just have a $130-$140 million payroll, they can win the division. You need a closer ($12-15 million) a set-up guy ($6-7) and a lefty ($5) to rebuild the bullpen. Add a mid-grade 1B ($10 million) and a back-up catcher and you have a roster that has a decent chance for ~$130 million. That is what they SHOULD do. You can always trade Ryan or Lopez in July if things go poorly. 

To be perfectly honest I don’t care how much the bullpen costs. More money theoretically means more certainty they won’t be a complete disaster. But they are kings of SSS for a reason. All it takes for your plan to go south is that closer, set up guy, or lefty having a bad season. 

 The odds of the Twins finding 4 quality relievers in 1 offseason is slim to none. And slim is leaving town. It took them 4+ years to build an above average bullpen before they gutted it.