It's Time to Move Byron Buxton to a Corner Outfield Spot

[SE23]

2 hours ago, jimbo92107 said:

I see videos of a big facility where they teach pitchers to reach the high 90's. Can't Keaschall do something like that? He's an excellent, strong athlete with plenty of twitch. He should be able to fire a ball at least 92 mph with a running start. What I can't believe is how INNACURATE the throws are from outfielders all over the league. I see guys missing home plate by twenty feet. WTF??

Repeating a question I've asked before on the forum: Are Keaschall's arm problems directly related to his '24 TJ surgery? His scouting report from that year rated his arm at 50.

 

[HarmonK03]

4 minutes ago, Whammy said:

I'm not super interested in witnessing Larnach's regression for $7M, when we have Buxton, Keashcall, Emma, and Jenkins who will all almost certainly be on the Twins and playing OF most of next year (though I could see an Emma trade).

Seems like he could have some value to an org that's not so log jammed with lefty corner OF. If you can move him for some middling bullpen help or a minor league lottery ticket, I'd do that. If not, then I personally would non-tender him.

I have always liked Larnach, so from that standpoint I would like to see him stay.  But in reality like you said he should be moved or non tendered.

[djvang]

38 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

This is such a strange comment.  Of course he's been injured a lot.  But he's still been their best player this year, and the best player on the team for several years now.  

And, like, PR?  He has never come across as someone who loves or even likes the camera (he's no Carlos Correa).  What PR are you referring to?  

If you keep getting "blasted" for suggesting that the team's WAR leader hasn't contributed on the field, it's probably because that take is factually just not true.  

The PR is the team using him as the face of the team. They sell thousands of jerseys with his name on them. His face is everywhere. Except on the field. "Best players" play more than half the games. 

[Whammy]

4 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

I have always liked Larnach, so from that standpoint I would like to see him stay.  But in reality like you said he should be moved or non tendered.

Yeah. He's been better than probably anyone on here could have hoped for this year, but we're already seeing some regression (74 wRC+ since the all star break) and for ~$7M with a crowded 2027 OF, it just doesn't seem to make much sense. 

[Jacksson]

58 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

How are you doing him a favor when he says he wants to be here for his whole career and has the power at least until his contract is up to say where he will play.

It is a BUSINESS !!  By trading him while he can still play CF you are extracting maximum value from an Asset.  Once he moves to RF, his asset value is diminished.

[HarmonK03]

2 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

It is a BUSINESS !!  By trading him while he can still play CF you are extracting maximum value from an Asset.  Once he moves to RF, his asset value is diminished.

In this business they give players who have played 10 years in the league and 5 years with the same team veto rights on any trade.  And Buxton has said he wants to stay here.  So no they can't just trade him because they want to, Buxton has to approve.  That is the business rule for baseball.

[David Maro]

It is August 19th and teams will add 1 position player and 1 pitcher September 1st. That is when you will see Jenkins and Ryan will be back. As far as Buxton goes who really cares if he is in CF or 1 of the other outfield positions. He plays 100 games or less in 162 game season. At his age and health history who thinks he will be on the field for more games go forward. It's time to move forward next year with a whole new outfield.

[Church of Kreidler]

Could not disagree more; I think Buxton's defense is his greatest strength. We all know that he's streaky at the plate, but if he's in the outfield that ball is going to be caught. Absolutely bring Jenkins up - whether this year or next, he'll be great to play when Buck isn't able to. But keeping Buck in center remains the best choice defensively.

[chpettit19]

14 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

It is a BUSINESS !!  By trading him while he can still play CF you are extracting maximum value from an Asset.  Once he moves to RF, his asset value is diminished.

That's a totally different answer than your original "do him a favor" statement. Buxton has said over and over and over that he doesn't want to be traded. Trading him wouldn't be "doing him a favor," it'd be making the business decision you find best for your business. I'd argue that trading him is no longer the best business decision, but that's neither here nor there. Your original comment was that they should do Buxton a favor. Trading somebody who doesn't want to be traded is not doing them a favor. And as has been pointed out, they can't trade him without his OK, anyways. They haven't been able to since he signed his extension.

[Jacksson]

Buxton would have to be consulted on any trade discussions due to his NTA.  That does not mean that it cannot be floated that Buxton is available.  In those discussions with Buxton in which he is informed that the Twins would, at least, listen to trade offers, just that would convey the idea to Buxton that the organization no longer regards him as a fixture and lead Buxton to conclude himself that the remainder of his career may be best spent elsewhere.  His loyalty to the organization can also be made apparent by Buxton's own realization that his departure by trade could reward the organization he holds so dear. 

[chpettit19]

8 minutes ago, David Maro said:

It is August 19th and teams will add 1 position player and 1 pitcher September 1st. That is when you will see Jenkins and Ryan will be back. As far as Buxton goes who really cares if he is in CF or 1 of the other outfield positions. He plays 100 games or less in 162 game season. At his age and health history who thinks he will be on the field for more games go forward. It's time to move forward next year with a whole new outfield.

I will never understand the argument of "0 games of Buxton is better than 100 games of Buxton." Yeah, it sucks he hasn't been able to stay healthy. The team YEARS ago needed to start doing a significantly better job of having another starting quality CFer on the roster. They did it here and there, but not consistently enough. But having an all star for 100 games is better than not having that all star.

The Twins will not be better in 2027 with "a whole new outfield."

[Whammy]

37 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

It is a BUSINESS !!  By trading him while he can still play CF you are extracting maximum value from an Asset.  Once he moves to RF, his asset value is diminished.

So the "do the guy a favor" comment was just BS you thought sounded good then?

[Whammy]

18 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I will never understand the argument of "0 games of Buxton is better than 100 games of Buxton." Yeah, it sucks he hasn't been able to stay healthy. The team YEARS ago needed to start doing a significantly better job of having another starting quality CFer on the roster. They did it here and there, but not consistently enough. But having an all star for 100 games is better than not having that all star.

The Twins will not be better in 2027 with "a whole new outfield."

This is exactly why I've had him on my fantasy baseball team for like 5 straight years.

"But he's injured too much to be valuable in fantasy." Nope. Incorrect. I get to put him on the IL when he's injured and start a replacement level CF for those games. When you combine his 100 games with the 60 from the replacement CF, it's a very productive 9th round pick at a position that doesn't have great offensive options

The key for the Twins is to have a replacement level CF (or LF if he moves positions) on the roster for the times he's on the IL. Because his per-game numbers and rate stats are still mostly fantastic (this recent slump not withstanding)

[HarmonK03]

27 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

Buxton would have to be consulted on any trade discussions due to his NTA.  That does not mean that it cannot be floated that Buxton is available.  In those discussions with Buxton in which he is informed that the Twins would, at least, listen to trade offers, just that would convey the idea to Buxton that the organization no longer regards him as a fixture and lead Buxton to conclude himself that the remainder of his career may be best spent elsewhere.  His loyalty to the organization can also be made apparent by Buxton's own realization that his departure by trade could reward the organization he holds so dear. 

So you think the Twins should move on from Buxton, that is fair.  But state that then saying they should do him a favor or that this is a business.

I think the Twins made it pretty clear that Buxton is not going to be traded and they are not approaching him about him.  And I doubt anything will change this offseason.  Quite frankly, I think this is a situation Tom P. will give input to if they even think about approaching him.  I am just as frustrated as anyone that he isn't out there for 140 games but I enjoy every game he is out there because he is an exciting player to watch.  And that is what the casual fan says and sees as well.  And based on Tom P. comments about winning back fans, I don't think he would want to take the PR nightmare that would come with moving Buxton.

[TJSweens]

I'm for moving Buck to a corner spot for the mere fact that LF & RF are a lot less wear and tear on the legs than CF. Buxton's repeated labrum injuries are probably an indicator that the Twins should reduce his milage. Especially at his age. The farther north of 30 you get, the easier it is to get those strains and the longer they take to heal.

[ashbury]

Once again, the clickbaity headline is way more extreme than the body of the article or its conclusion. I'm honestly a little tired of it.

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It's Time to Move Byron Buxton to a Corner Outfield Spot

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One way or another, though, it's time to start making a succession plan

I came into reading this with an eye toward what I wanted to say, and then found that it wasn't necessary.