Are Byron Buxton and Derek Falvey Putting Pressure On The Pohlads?

[Eric Blonigen]

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Byron Buxton has loudly and repeatedly proclaimed himself a Twin for life. Derek Falvey has a long history of giving non-answers when asked straightforward questions. What do these two things have in common, you might be asking? One thing, and maybe a big one: both have, over the past couple of weeks, been conspicuously different than the status quo. Is it possible that both are (consciously or otherwise) sending a message to ownership? Are they making it clear who’s to blame if the whole thing is torn down? There’s reason to think so. Let’s look at both cases independently.

Byron Buxton
As the 2025 trade deadline was approaching, Buxton told the media not to bother stirring trade rumors about him.

"I can't be traded. I've got a no-trade clause," he said. "I'm a Minnesota Twin for the rest of my life. So that's the best feeling in the world.”

After the fire sale, when 40% of the roster was traded away, Buxton was asked if anything had changed for him. His answer?

“Nothing’s changed, it’s just part of baseball. It’s the business side of it. Just 'cause we go through these tough roads or whatever, it is what it is. We’ll be better once we get on the other end of it and figure things out a little bit more. Like I said, the end of the season, we’ll talk a little bit more. But I ain’t going nowhere.”

When the Pohlads announced they were no longer selling the team, Buxton said it was “good to know the people who signed me are still in charge.”

And yet.

Last week, The Athletic’s Dan Hayes reported: “a major-league source indicated Tuesday that Buxton, who turns 32 next month, wants to play for a winner and may reconsider his stance for certain clubs if the Twins continue breaking up their roster, potentially by trading starting pitchers Joe Ryan or Pablo López.”

If true, that’s quite the about-face. What if it’s not an about-face, though? What if it’s Buxton giving a bit of an ultimatum? Sort of a “don’t make me want to leave,” dropped in the right ears? This is speculation, but it’s worth considering. Also worth noting is that Falvey reiterated in the GM meetings that Buxton continues to want to be a Twin for life. Still, Hayes’s reporting is out there, and that's meaningful.

Derek Falvey
In several interviews so far this offseason, Falvey has refused to answer straightforward questions about the 2026 payroll; whether the team will be rebuilding; or whether Ryan or López will be traded, except with evasion.

“It's not even yet October," he said at his end-of-season press conference. "So there's an offseason to play out in terms of what this roster actually looks like. You never end a season and know that that's your roster going next year.”

“The trade deadline was a moment in time where we had to evaluate those decisions at that time, in concert with ownership around what we wanted, what we felt was best, based on some parameters at the time," he said in the same presser, when asked about the motivation for the fire sale. "And, you know, we weren't in a position at the time to add. Right?"

Falvey's only leaving bread crumbs, but follow them, and it's clear: he’s covering for his bosses. The use of “we” signifies something different than owning a comment. This stands out a bit further when looking at some comments from last week’s GM meetings in Las Vegas.

“I remain personally committed to figuring out what are the ways we can add to this group to make it better. That is my goal," he told reporters there. "It was my stated goal before and remains my stated goal until I'm told otherwise. That will be my focus for now, is figuring out ways we can add to the group.”

That’s much more upfront than is typical for Falvey. He chooses his words carefully, and doesn’t say anything he doesn’t mean to. When asked directly about trading away their frontline starters, he doubled down.

“My goal is to try and add around the group we already have. We think our starting pitching is the strength of this team. We know Pablo and Joe have been real anchors for us over the last couple of years when healthy," Falvey said. "Ultimately, to have Bailey Ober coming back in a healthy spot and all of the young pitching we've acquired to join guys like Zebby and Simeon and David Festa, we like that group. We think that's a group, hopefully, we can build around. That would be my focus here in the early going.”

He acknowledged that it’s difficult to find good starters, and that depth is important.

“I’ve said this: I hope we can add around the group that we have," he went on to say. "I think at this point, you’re focused on the forward, as to how you grow a young team, how you add around it, and hopefully, over time, we’re in a position to really invest more in the future."

That’s three different times he clearly spoke about adding, rather than subtracting. He is staking out his desires in clear terms. Then, he says that he hopes “we” get to do this. Could it be that Falvey, like Buxton, is dropping hints that he will be clear about where to place the blame if the team is taken down to the studs? I believe so.

I’ll leave you with a few more points in this case:

1. Falvey cares. After the epic collapse down the 2024 stretch, he was in tears when discussing the season. If he didn’t care, didn’t want to win, he wouldn’t have done that.
2. While the Carlos Correa re-signing didn’t work out the way anyone would have liked, there is zero chance Falvey would have signed him if he had known that payroll would be slashed to the point of being unable to build a competitive roster around him.
3. He would be right to feel frustrated with the constraints placed on him by ownership, since his primary responsibility is to build and run a competitive team.
4. If the Twins fail to live up to whatever expectations ownership has for the 2026 season, Falvey may be out the door. It would behoove him to stop protecting his bosses, if they aren’t setting him up for success.

Am I reading too much into comments, or is there something here? This could be wholly unknowable at this point. But, it is possible that people like Falvey and Buxton are starting to use their voices to steer ownership in the right and necessary direction. One can hope so, because it seems like they need all the pressure possible to do the right thing for the team—and for fans.

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[tony&rodney]

You are kidding right? A player is pressuring an owner?

[Riverbrian]

If Derek Falvey threw ownership under the bus saying... I really don't know what ownership expects trying to field a team on a shoestring budget. He wouldn't have a job much longer. 

If Derek Falvey said budget was set at 100 million. The Fans would tear those comments to pieces. 

If Derek Falvey said the budget was set at 140 million. The Fans would tear that comment to pieces if they only spent 120 million. 

If Derek Falvey said that they were actively trying to trade Joe Ryan. What happens if they don't get a decent offer for Joe Ryan and they don't trade him. I don't think it's sensible to just toss names around on possibilities, considerations or hypotheticals. 

We want information and we don't know how to act with that information. We... us... you... I... are why public relations graduates are pouring out of universities across the country, finding work to help corporate America manage messages because we don't react very well to the answers. We want the truth and we will kill anyone who tells the truth.  

Falvey is doing the only thing that is sensible to do. Say something without saying anything. It's the public relations playbook that's been written based on years of trial and error dealing with all of us. 

 

[Doctor Gast]

Does Buxton care? Does he want to win? Yes, he does. Does Falvey care? Does he want to win? It'd be terrible if he didn't. Does he want to add with FAs? Yes, he does, but he is also covering his butt. IMO, FA isn't the answer either.

Still, I'd hope that their statements would influence the Pohlads to keep everybody & we trade for needed pieces w/o adding too much in FA.

 

[thelanges5]

Do the Pohlads even care? They say they want to be competitive, but they haven’t done much to show it. Feels like they are setting this up to make max profit by selling the team after the new CBA.

 

[jorgenswest]

They have more influence than I do. I appreciate their care and fight for this team.

[Vanimal46]

23 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Do the Pohlads even care? They say they want to be competitive, but they haven’t done much to show it. Feels like they are setting this up to make max profit by selling the team after the new CBA.

 

They do not. Welcome aboard for waking up and realizing what is happening right now.

[IndianaTwin]

There’s been an awful lot of ink spilled and letters typed based on one reporter referencing (not even quoting) an anonymous source speculating on what Buxton is thinking, even though that speculation is in direct contrast to what Buxton has explicitly said on multiple occasions. 

[terrydactyls]

There were two things that struck me in the OP.

1.  The quote from Falvey in which he says  "It was my stated goal before and remains my stated goal until I'm told otherwise."  This sounds like something a husband would say.  "This is what I believe and I won't change - unless my wife tells me to."

2.  I keep hearing that the "plan" is to keep what they have now and add help where needed.  How can you add players if you don't have a semi-firm budget already in place?  IMO, they will do nothing until a month before spring training starts, then finalize a budget to work with, and try to sign whatever reclamation projects are unsigned.

[old nurse]

22 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

There’s been an awful lot of ink spilled and letters typed based on one reporter referencing (not even quoting) an anonymous source speculating on what Buxton is thinking, even though that speculation is in direct contrast to what Buxton has explicitly said on multiple occasions. 

It is a way to put. Pressure on the owners, so the insider might have leaked something with Buxton’s. Knowledge of it. 

[FlyingFinn]

"While the Carlos Correa re-signing didn’t work out the way anyone would have liked, there is zero chance Falvey would have signed him if he had known that payroll would be slashed to the point of being unable to build a competitive roster around him."

This comment I certainly agree with. 

[Major League Ready]

4 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

If Derek Falvey threw ownership under the bus saying... I really don't know what ownership expects trying to field a team on a shoestring budget. He wouldn't have a job much longer. 

If Derek Falvey said budget was set at 100 million. The Fans would tear those comments to pieces. 

If Derek Falvey said the budget was set at 140 million. The Fans would tear that comment to pieces if they only spent 120 million. 

If Derek Falvey said that they were actively trying to trade Joe Ryan. What happens if they don't get a decent offer for Joe Ryan and they don't trade him. I don't think it's sensible to just toss names around on possibilities, considerations or hypotheticals. 

We want information and we don't know how to act with that information. We... us... you... I... are why public relations graduates are pouring out of universities across the country, finding work to help corporate America manage messages because we don't react very well to the answers. We want the truth and we will kill anyone who tells the truth.  

Falvey is doing the only thing that is sensible to do. Say something without saying anything. It's the public relations playbook that's been written based on years of trial and error dealing with all of us. 

 

This is probably the most sensible thing I have ever read on TD

[DocBauer]

If an offhanded comment from Byron that said he MIGHT waive his no trade clause if the team was further disassemble put pressure on the Pohlads, I'd be OK with that. It would be a fan tragedy if he was moved because not enough of ownership cared. Can you imagine Mauer or Puckett on another team? As fans, we greatly lamented Hunter and Morneau moving on for at least part of the end of their careers. 

I really don't know that Falvey is calling out ownership, but I wouldn't put it past him for a nudge. Say all the negatives you want to about Falvey, and I've got a few disagreements, but he has always looked to the future of the Twins and his idea of "sustainable competiveness". He's made mistakes. And the Pohlads have messed up a lot of a lot of ideas and ideals that Falvey has probably had in mind.

But I truly believe he wants the Twins to succeed, even though I think he's been a bit stubborn in certain areas.

Despite an offhanded comment, I believe Buck is ready to be a Twin for life. But I sure couldn't blame him for looking elsewhere if ownership gets further stupid. But it would be a tragedy for fans.

Were I Falvey, and they undercut me AGAIN, I'd honestly have to look elsewhere. I may have tremendous power in my current position, and I've made more than a few $M in my role, but if there is no more enjoyment in my role, I'd be better off with another organization. 

Make no mistake, despite some flaws we all have in regard to Falvey's tenure, he'd be snapped up by in a minute by many organizations as a very solid FO addition.

I'd really like to think Buxton and Falvey WOULD be putting pressure on ownership. But the truth is, very few of the Pohlads seem to care. Jim and Joe seem to care. That's the reason the opening day payroll "jumped" last season to $138-142M depending on which website you want to believe/follow. 

And here we are almost begging for $120-130M for 2026. That's insane. And WAY below 2023, or the expected average of 2026. But even still, it COULD provide the team to have a POTENTIAL $45-50M just to meet the 2025 opening day payroll.

Buxton and Falvey can both be optimists. They can nudge all they want. But it still comes down to the Pohlads and the new minority owners to give Falvey some number that makes sense. And as much as we bash Joe and Jim, maybe we should be rooting for them as actual fans at this point.

 

[Jacksson]

NO.  The Pohlads did not get to be where they are financially by paying attention to the opinions of or pressure applied by others.

You're in the business army now; you're only friend's a BUCK and the more BUCKS you've got, the more friends you've got = Pohlad family mantra, originally from Fred Flintstone. 

[Dave Borton]

Quote

Am I reading too much into comments (?)

Yes.

[old nurse]

7 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

There were two things that struck me in the OP.

1.  The quote from Falvey in which he says  "It was my stated goal before and remains my stated goal until I'm told otherwise."  This sounds like something a husband would say.  "This is what I believe and I won't change - unless my wife tells me to."

2.  I keep hearing that the "plan" is to keep what they have now and add help where needed.  How can you add players if you don't have a semi-firm budget already in place?  IMO, they will do nothing until a month before spring training starts, then finalize a budget to work with, and try to sign whatever reclamation projects are unsigned.

The players that are minor league contracts with an invite happen now and December.   The lower level free agents likely sign late hoping for a better contract unless it is a team they want to play for.  

Joe made the right size comment in Feb, i doubt that it was an impulse decision. They likely know by November what the budget will be

[shimrod]

Falvey wants to win, of course he does. However, his job is to run the team in accordance with ownerships direction and goals. If he's told winning is secondary to generating a profit then he'll do his utmost to maximize profit while fielding the best team possible under the financial limitations. If he's not on board with the direction he can elect to leave. The idea he's sending messages to ownership through the press is laughable. 

Buxton wants to win and I doubt he gives a flip about the owners finances. He's been clear he wants to stay in MN but nothing is holding him to that if ownership's financial demands result in a full tear down. Changing your mind when the circumstances change is anyone's prerogative and in this case would it would be perfectly reasonable. 

Falvey is not going to publicly announce a teardown; we'll find out when the deals happen. I expect to see Ryan, Lopez, and eventually Buxton traded. 

 

[Whitey333]

So when does Falvey accept responsibility for his performance as GM?  The Twins have consistently been on top or very near top of payroll in the Central.  Last year before the teardown they ranked 17th overall out of 30.  No not great but not rotten.  They have regularly outspent Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, and the White Sox.  I think Falvey should be scrutinized in his handling of the payroll budget.  Signing Correa was so foolish especially after two teams rejected him for health reasons.  They could have signed 3-4 players for the money they gave Carlos.  I don't think ownership cares what Falvey or Buxton thinks.  It's quite clear they don't care what the fans think.  It's quite clear ownership has no public relations skills at all.  I fully expect bith Ryan and Lopez to be traded this off season.  Perhaps Buxton as well.

[The Great Hambino]

47 minutes ago, shimrod said:

Falvey wants to win, of course he does. However, his job is to run the team in accordance with ownerships direction and goals. If he's told winning is secondary to generating a profit then he'll do his utmost to maximize profit while fielding the best team possible under the financial limitations. If he's not on board with the direction he can elect to leave. The idea he's sending messages to ownership through the press is laughable. 

I don't see it as Falvey sending messages to ownership, more like sending messages to the public that it wasn't his desire to trade Lopez/Ryan if it eventually goes down.

During the course of an up-and-down, largely disappointing tenure, he's managed to accumulate more power and responsibility.  While seemingly everyone else around him got axed, he got promoted.  If nothing else, Falvey has shown he knows how to maneuver his way around the C-suite.  His messaging is intentional, even if not directed right at ownership

[Cris E]

I don't think this is pressure, I think it's signaling their plans quietly. This should not have been written without acknowledging that Shelton went through his interviews with Falvey and came out with an understanding of what was coming, and was satisfied with the plan. Falvey can't be claiming no idea on budget and boundaries if that's the case. I mean maybe Shelton likes youngsters and losing, but it's far more likely he heard a tale of "evaluate in 26, lockout and new lineup in 27, win in 28." 

Last weekend the infallible Charlie Walters (ha!) said the new minority investors get right of first refusal once the CBA sets new revenue rules and sale talks spiral back up. The idea they spend this season keeping their powder dry until 27 makes sense, as would keeping Byron, trading away Lopez (who they don't extend) and signing Ryan longer term with the freed money.  

The one thing that I still don't get it why the new partners are still shrouded. I mean no one likes the PE guys, but the local one would make a nice distraction. 

[LambchoP]

I doubt they traded away half the team last year just to come back and spend big and go for it this year. My guess is, they trim some fat and salary off the roster and give a lot of our prospects their debuts. Ownership will use this year to see where we're at with our young guys and decide what to do next year.

[bean5302]

If commenters don't believe a player can put pressure on ownership, they've sure forgotten the history of this club. Radke pushed ownership HARD, and that was likely a major reason the Twins are still in "Minnesota" because I do not believe Judge Harry Seymour Crump would have ruled to block the Twins from moving if the attendance in 2001 had followed the trend in previous years, and without Radke being extended or the resulting investment into that 2001 team, I don't think think attendance would have rallied. Prior to Radke, Puckett rallied fans to put an immense amount of pressure on ownership.

A player can't force an owner to do something, but they sure can make it uncomfortable to not make at least a legitimate effort.

Falvey's a politician. No idea what the Twins' ownership has stated the maximum next season budget will be, but historically, the Pohlads have made that known before the end of the previous season. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a 2 part budget. Rebuild or Compete depending on what free agency looks like, but who knows with this team.

[Jeff K]

15 hours ago, DocBauer said:

If an offhanded comment from Byron that said he MIGHT waive his no trade clause if the team was further disassemble put pressure on the Pohlads, I'd be OK with that. It would be a fan tragedy if he was moved because not enough of ownership cared. Can you imagine Mauer or Puckett on another team? As fans, we greatly lamented Hunter and Morneau moving on for at least part of the end of their careers. 

I really don't know that Falvey is calling out ownership, but I wouldn't put it past him for a nudge. Say all the negatives you want to about Falvey, and I've got a few disagreements, but he has always looked to the future of the Twins and his idea of "sustainable competiveness". He's made mistakes. And the Pohlads have messed up a lot of a lot of ideas and ideals that Falvey has probably had in mind.

But I truly believe he wants the Twins to succeed, even though I think he's been a bit stubborn in certain areas.

Despite an offhanded comment, I believe Buck is ready to be a Twin for life. But I sure couldn't blame him for looking elsewhere if ownership gets further stupid. But it would be a tragedy for fans.

Were I Falvey, and they undercut me AGAIN, I'd honestly have to look elsewhere. I may have tremendous power in my current position, and I've made more than a few $M in my role, but if there is no more enjoyment in my role, I'd be better off with another organization. 

Make no mistake, despite some flaws we all have in regard to Falvey's tenure, he'd be snapped up by in a minute by many organizations as a very solid FO addition.

I'd really like to think Buxton and Falvey WOULD be putting pressure on ownership. But the truth is, very few of the Pohlads seem to care. Jim and Joe seem to care. That's the reason the opening day payroll "jumped" last season to $138-142M depending on which website you want to believe/follow. 

And here we are almost begging for $120-130M for 2026. That's insane. And WAY below 2023, or the expected average of 2026. But even still, it COULD provide the team to have a POTENTIAL $45-50M just to meet the 2025 opening day payroll.

Buxton and Falvey can both be optimists. They can nudge all they want. But it still comes down to the Pohlads and the new minority owners to give Falvey some number that makes sense. And as much as we bash Joe and Jim, maybe we should be rooting for them as actual fans at this point.

 

I think Falvey should have quit at the end of the season...unless he doesn't believe he can get another job in baseball.  He could have quit because he was tired of the Pohlads pulling the rug out from under him.  He also could have quit because he should take ownership of the mess the team is in right now.  I am not a fan of Falvey's.  I think he is complicit in the mess the Twins are in.  But we will never know how much of this mess was dictated by the Pohlads.  Some of his comments do seem to demonstrate the direction he wants the team to go without yet knowing what the Pohlads want.  

[Woof Bronzer]

30 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

If commenters don't believe a player can put pressure on ownership, they've sure forgotten the history of this club. Radke pushed ownership HARD, and that was likely a major reason the Twins are still in "Minnesota" because I do not believe Judge Harry Seymour Crump would have ruled to block the Twins from moving if the attendance in 2001 had followed the trend in previous years, and without Radke being extended or the resulting investment into that 2001 team, I don't think think attendance would have rallied. Prior to Radke, Puckett rallied fans to put an immense amount of pressure on ownership.

A player can't force an owner to do something, but they sure can make it uncomfortable to not make at least a legitimate effort.

Falvey's a politician. No idea what the Twins' ownership has stated the maximum next season budget will be, but historically, the Pohlads have made that known before the end of the previous season. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a 2 part budget. Rebuild or Compete depending on what free agency looks like, but who knows with this team.

Harry Crump ruled the way he did because of the law.  The Pohlads were illegally trying to break the Metrodome lease.  Comments from Brad Radke had absolutely nothing to do with the ruling, come on man.  

Billionaires don't care what their employees, their customers, or any other non-billionaire thinks.  That's why you become a billionaire, so you can do whatever you want without accountability, so you don't have to listen to anyone.  

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Harry Crump ruled the way he did because of the law...

https://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200111/16_khoom_twins/index.shtml

Crump ruled the way he did because the Minnesota Twins were considered part of the community and this was more than just a typical tenant vs landlord dispute. If it was just a tenant/landlord issue, the Twins could have just bought out their lease and rolled out of town.

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, Jeff K said:

I think Falvey should have quit at the end of the season...unless he doesn't believe he can get another job in baseball.  He could have quit because he was tired of the Pohlads pulling the rug out from under him.  He also could have quit because he should take ownership of the mess the team is in right now.  I am not a fan of Falvey's.  I think he is complicit in the mess the Twins are in.  But we will never know how much of this mess was dictated by the Pohlads.  Some of his comments do seem to demonstrate the direction he wants the team to go without yet knowing what the Pohlads want.  

Falvey has been a pretty lousy GM/President. The Pohlads gave him the assets he needed, and Falvey squandered them every time.

[PDX Twin]

20 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Do the Pohlads even care? They say they want to be competitive, but they haven’t done much to show it. Feels like they are setting this up to make max profit by selling the team after the new CBA.

I think we may have different definitions of "competitive" than the owners. For them, "being competitive" likely means getting enough butts in the stands and eyeballs on the screen to make them money without incurring high costs. Not irrational. (But then I'm an economist...)

[Woof Bronzer]

16 hours ago, bean5302 said:

https://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200111/16_khoom_twins/index.shtml

Crump ruled the way he did because the Minnesota Twins were considered part of the community and this was more than just a typical tenant vs landlord dispute. If it was just a tenant/landlord issue, the Twins could have just bought out their lease and rolled out of town.

Curious if you read the piece you cited.

In his written order, Judge Crump plainly stated that the Twins exercised their option to play baseball in the Metrodome and he's holding the team to its lease.

I did a ctrl-F for "Brad" and "Radke" and nothing came up.  I think we can put to rest your hot take that Brad Radke put so much pressure on the Pohlads that it swung a judge's ruling and saved the team.  

The Pohlads reacted to fan "pressure" to improve the team by first threatening to move and then, when that didn't work, attempting to contract the team out of existence for spite.  They have nothing but contempt for fans and everyone else beneath their station and are absolutely unmoved by criticism.   

[Jeff K]

17 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Falvey has been a pretty lousy GM/President. The Pohlads gave him the assets he needed, and Falvey squandered them every time.

I am definitely not a fan of his.  In fact, I'm pretty clear that he should have resigned, or been fired.