Tuesday's Injury Feels Like a Huge One for Byron Buxton

[Parfigliano]

5 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Quick question: who is the CEO of the NY Mets?

Follow-up question: are all businesses structured exactly the same?

🙄

NYM  CEO Steven Cohen also owner and chairman.

[S Bart]

a Buxton fan has a right to give thumbs down (certainly one of them here does) to everything negative about him, some thoughts...He's signed through 2028 on a seven-year, $100 million contract, meaning Minnesota still has substantial control over him (WARNING possible lockout for 2027). I wouldn't build the roster assuming 150 games. I'd build it assuming something like 110 to 125 games,  and consider anything beyond that a bonus. If he gives the Twins 125 games at his 2025 level. He’s an asset. If the hip becomes another recurring problem and he gives them 70–90 games, the contract becomes much more problematic. He will be 32 next year, I seriously doubt they will give him an extension. It is time to start planning for the future in 2027 and use him part time at CF. It may be wise to DH him, despite him not seeming to prefer it. okay,,, hit me with a 👎Harmon

[old nurse]

Wow, the Mets front office seems like a prevalent off topic. From MLB.com

MENTAL HEALTH & MENTAL PERFORMANCE

Jimmy VanOstrand: Director, Mental Performance

Adam Severino: Mental Performance Coordinator

Dr. Tess Palmateer: Team Sport Psychologist

Terrance Tatum: Affiliate Mental Performance Coach

Abel Encarnacion: Affiliate Mental Performance Coach

Salome Velez: D.R. Academy Mental Performance Coach

Laura Diamond: Mental Health Counselor

Pablo Gonzalez: Mental Health Counselor

 

That is one staff for every 3 players. New York must be mentally stressful 

[old nurse]

6 minutes ago, S Bart said:

a Buxton fan has a right to give thumbs down (certainly one of them here does) to everything negative about him, some thoughts...He's signed through 2028 on a seven-year, $100 million contract, meaning Minnesota still has substantial control over him (WARNING possible lockout for 2027). I wouldn't build the roster assuming 150 games. I'd build it assuming something like 110 to 125 games,  and consider anything beyond that a bonus. If he gives the Twins 125 games at his 2025 level. He’s an asset. If the hip becomes another recurring problem and he gives them 70–90 games, the contract becomes much more problematic. He will be 32 next year, I seriously doubt they will give him an extension. It is time to start planning for the future in 2027 and use him part time at CF. It may be wise to DH him, despite him not seeming to prefer it. okay,,, hit me with a 👎Harmon

The last ten years he has averaged 85 games a season expecting a different result seems foolish 

[saviking]

10 hours ago, Danchat said:

Back when Buxton got extended, I wondered whether it'd be worth it since he rarely made it to the end of a season uninjured... what's the point if you consistently aren't healthy enough to play in the playoffs? It's unfortunate, I don't blame him whatsoever, he tries to tough it out. His body is simply failing him.

Think he can play 1st base? No infield experience but he is a great right handed batter when healthy so maybe alternating him between DH and 1st base would keep him healthy? 

And it opens up center field for Jenkins. 

[saviking]

My intuition tells me all 7 playoff teams in the American League will be 500 teams and it also tells me no way we get back to 500.   

[S Bart]

38 minutes ago, old nurse said:

The last ten years he has averaged 85 games a season expecting a different result seems foolish 

So, does it just mean that the team should plan on 85 games and have rotating Centerfielders through 2028? Is that a good answer for a baseball team that wants success? How about inputting a player to take on the role with an understanding that Buxton will be exiting? HHMMM...let;s see ...perhaps someone from the SAINTS!!! If he can go to Atlanta...okay with me.

[HarmonK03]

38 minutes ago, S Bart said:

a Buxton fan has a right to give thumbs down (certainly one of them here does) to everything negative about him, some thoughts...He's signed through 2028 on a seven-year, $100 million contract, meaning Minnesota still has substantial control over him (WARNING possible lockout for 2027). I wouldn't build the roster assuming 150 games. I'd build it assuming something like 110 to 125 games,  and consider anything beyond that a bonus. If he gives the Twins 125 games at his 2025 level. He’s an asset. If the hip becomes another recurring problem and he gives them 70–90 games, the contract becomes much more problematic. He will be 32 next year, I seriously doubt they will give him an extension. It is time to start planning for the future in 2027 and use him part time at CF. It may be wise to DH him, despite him not seeming to prefer it. okay,,, hit me with a 👎Harmon

I don't think they have ever built the roster assuming he was going to play 150 games.  They knew the risks when they signed him to the contract.  That is why there are numerous incentives written into the contract.  They can put him where they want to next year.  

Do you think they will do anything without his buyin though.  They still think of him as the face of the franchise whether we agree with that or not.  He is going to be given more consideration on any moves than any other player.  I actually wouldn't mind him in a corner spot now that we have two legitimate options to play center in either ERod or Jenkins.

Everybody says we should do this or that with him or trade him, this isn't fantasy baseball.  With a player of his tenure and stature with the Twins no move is as easy as the moves made earlier in the year when we reshuffled the infield.  And I think the Twins have shown their belief in him many times over the years and recently.

[S Bart]

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Buxton is sitting today after Tom Pohlad examined him and determined he didn't need to be on the IL yet.

[S Bart]

16 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

I don't think they have ever built the roster assuming he was going to play 150 games.  They knew the risks when they signed him to the contract.  That is why there are numerous incentives written into the contract.  They can put him where they want to next year.  

Do you think they will do anything without his buyin though.  They still think of him as the face of the franchise whether we agree with that or not.  He is going to be given more consideration on any moves than any other player.  I actually wouldn't mind him in a corner spot now that we have two legitimate options to play center in either ERod or Jenkins.

Everybody says we should do this or that with him or trade him, this isn't fantasy baseball.  With a player of his tenure and stature with the Twins no move is as easy as the moves made earlier in the year when we reshuffled the infield.  And I think the Twins have shown their belief in him many times over the years and recently.

Thank you for your very good comments. I really appreciate it. I am not one to downgrade him being a face of the franchise, but it needs to focus on the future come 2027. He is not going to get traded and I honestly do not feel that they would get much in return. It is time to phase in the new talent and individuals such as Jenkins. He will not be with the Twins after 2028, and it may be sooner if the injuries continue. He is NOT a Correa and does not complain or speak harshly of others. Honestly, I just want the best team for next year and do not see how they can continue to count on him as a fulltime CF. Look at the Angels and Trout. They have adjusted and used him at DH a good bit from my understanding. It may not be Buxton's preference, but realization and the betterment of the team needs to be a priority.

[NYCTK]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

Wow, the Mets front office seems like a prevalent off topic. From MLB.com

MENTAL HEALTH & MENTAL PERFORMANCE

Jimmy VanOstrand: Director, Mental Performance

Adam Severino: Mental Performance Coordinator

Dr. Tess Palmateer: Team Sport Psychologist

Terrance Tatum: Affiliate Mental Performance Coach

Abel Encarnacion: Affiliate Mental Performance Coach

Salome Velez: D.R. Academy Mental Performance Coach

Laura Diamond: Mental Health Counselor

Pablo Gonzalez: Mental Health Counselor

 

That is one staff for every 3 players. New York must be mentally stressful 

Makes sense. Can you imagine having to put up with my jeers? 

[HarmonK03]

Based on Audra's comments, I think there may be a lot of disappointed fans on Friday when Buxton is not put on the IL.  Now they could still call up Jenkins and make another move but I have a feeling they are going to give Buxton the weekend to see if he can work thru the latest setback.

He told Audra a couple of days of treatment and he thinks he will be ok.  Now they could find a new injury or something was aggravated but Buxton seems to think he can be back out there soon.

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

Based on Audra's comments, I think there may be a lot of disappointed fans on Friday when Buxton is not put on the IL.  Now they could still call up Jenkins and make another move but I have a feeling they are going to give Buxton the weekend to see if he can work thru the latest setback.

He told Audra a couple of days of treatment and he thinks he will be ok.  Now they could find a new injury or something was aggravated but Buxton seems to think he can be back out there soon.

Even now, with how obviously hurt he is....we're dragging out decisions to keep him on the field.  Let the man rest, I don't understand why we're sitting here with Keaschall in CF debating this.

[Mike Sixel]

26 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Even now, with how obviously hurt he is....we're dragging out decisions to keep him on the field.  Let the man rest, I don't understand why we're sitting here with Keaschall in CF debating this.

Deference to stars, trying for another year of control of Jenkins, stubbornness, inability to admit mistakes. I can go on if you want....

[old nurse]

10 hours ago, S Bart said:

So, does it just mean that the team should plan on 85 games and have rotating Centerfielders through 2028? Is that a good answer for a baseball team that wants success? How about inputting a player to take on the role with an understanding that Buxton will be exiting? HHMMM...let;s see ...perhaps someone from the SAINTS!!! If he can go to Atlanta...okay with me.

It means you need to have a backup plan. Last year it was Bader. This year it was Outman . The conundrum is that a healthy Buxton is one of the best players in baseball.

Protons, neutrons and electrons  The dead horse of trade Buxton has been beaten down to that 

 

[Woof Bronzer]

8 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Even now, with how obviously hurt he is....we're dragging out decisions to keep him on the field.  Let the man rest, I don't understand why we're sitting here with Keaschall in CF debating this.

I've given the Pohlads the benefit of the doubt that they couldn't possibly be holding Jenkins back due to service clock considerations.  At this point though I seriously don't understand what else it could be.  

For all those enamored with Tom and how much better he is than the last Pohlad somehow: when he talks about winning and fielding a competitive team,  he'd rather play no one than call up one of the best prospects in baseball in a playoff push.  You cannot possibly be serious about winning when you trot out Luke "The Butcher" Keaschall to play a position he's never player before while letting your best prospect in 25 years tear the cover off the ball in the minors.  Why?  To save some money a few years down the road.  

Same as it ever was with this organization.  Lies from the top, incompetence from the middle management, and a team at or near the bottom of a bad division.  

[TheLeviathan]

9 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Deference to stars, trying for another year of control of Jenkins, stubbornness, inability to admit mistakes. I can go on if you want....

Buxton has always struck me as a really, really good dude.  Forcing Keaschall to play in CF can't be something he enjoys seeing.  Watching Morris get his ERA blown up over a ball that should've been caught can't be fun for him to see.  

I get where he and the team might have their hearts at (on the field, contending) but the real, actual results of not keeping him on the DL until he is healed, or not immediately putting him on the DL after that hideously sad injury the other night, doesn't just hurt Buxton.  There are downstream harms to this constant battle to play short-handed while never, ever, ever considering the idea of having a backup CFer on the roster.

I don't understand how we opted to bypass selling at the deadline but then haven't been willing to pull out all the stops afterwards if contention is really our top priority.

[Mike Sixel]

28 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Buxton has always struck me as a really, really good dude.  Forcing Keaschall to play in CF can't be something he enjoys seeing.  Watching Morris get his ERA blown up over a ball that should've been caught can't be fun for him to see.  

I get where he and the team might have their hearts at (on the field, contending) but the real, actual results of not keeping him on the DL until he is healed, or not immediately putting him on the DL after that hideously sad injury the other night, doesn't just hurt Buxton.  There are downstream harms to this constant battle to play short-handed while never, ever, ever considering the idea of having a backup CFer on the roster.

I don't understand how we opted to bypass selling at the deadline but then haven't been willing to pull out all the stops afterwards if contention is really our top priority.

Contention was never the top priority? That's my guess. They gave up two legit prospects to try to sell tickets, for pitchers no one cares about, when all they had to do was call up young guys and sell them.....

[S Bart]

4 hours ago, old nurse said:

It means you need to have a backup plan. Last year it was Bader. This year it was Outman . The conundrum is that a healthy Buxton is one of the best players in baseball.

Protons, neutrons and electrons  The dead horse of trade Buxton has been beaten down to that 

 

My point is that it is time to use Buxton as the back-up plan or part-time plan. You have a young #1 draft pick ready to take the baton in that role. It makes absolutely no sense to keep HOPING that he will be well. He has played in about 54% of his MLB games per the stats due to injuries and resting him since he became an MLB player. He will be 32 in in 2027. His injury list. cortisone shots, etc. are lengthy.  Those are facts. You cannot count on him being a full time, healthy player moving forward. Maybe it is time to get a full-time person you can count on and use him part time..or DH . He is not a dead horse... but he is a crippled horse that you should not be placing bets on for future races. 

[TheLeviathan]

7 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Contention was never the top priority? That's my guess. They gave up two legit prospects to try to sell tickets, for pitchers no one cares about, when all they had to do was call up young guys and sell them.....

Crazy part is....they almost certainly would've been a better team given how minimal the impact from Larnach, Buxton, Ryan, and Jeffers has been.

[Woof Bronzer]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

when all they had to do was call up young guys and sell them.....

This is the part I have never ever understood.  If Tommy cares about attendance, Walker Jenkins is probably the single biggest draw/curiosity we have.   The kid has been ridiculously hyped since the minute he was drafted.  I know I'm dying to see what he can do.  He's definitely a bigger draw than holding onto Ryan Jeffers for 2 months.  

If Tommy cares about winning, Jenkins is likely a better player than half their current lineup.

If Tommy cares about payroll, Jenkins would likely be the cheapest CF in the league.

[S Bart]

16 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

NYM  CEO Steven Cohen also owner and chairman.

and billionaire who spends his money on a team that has failed to produce

[USAFChief]

3 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

I've given the Pohlads the benefit of the doubt that they couldn't possibly be holding Jenkins back due to service clock considerations.  At this point though I seriously don't understand what else it could be.  

It's 100 percent NOT "service clock considerations."

There are zero current service time considerations, and there haven't been any since the super two date came and went. While nobody knows what that date actually was for 2026 rookies, it was months ago.

Super two status has historically varied between 114 and 146 days of MLB service time. This year its expected to be in the low 140s, for 2026 rookes. 

That means 2028 super two status for 2026 rookies was no longer a factor sometime in May.

Calling up Jenkins (or any rookie) any time after that date has zero service time implications. None.

There are potential 40 man roster implications, however.

 

 

 

Edited 15 hours ago by USAFChief

[Woof Bronzer]

11 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

It's 100 percent NOT "service clock considerations."

Like I said, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt.  What possible reason could there be for sitting one of the best prospects in baseball in a position of need in favor of an empty spot on the bench?  All the previous excuses - "not ready"....preserve ROY....no room for him....still not ready....service clock...."he's ready but it's not just about performance"..."what are you gonna do, sit Trevor Larnach?" - have all come to pass.  

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, S Bart said:

and billionaire who spends his money on a team that has failed to produce

In the billionaires defense the NYM failed to produce under the previous billionaire owner too.  It's kinda tradition.

[killercarewoliva]

On 8/26/2026 at 10:34 AM, DJL44 said:

Time to put Jenkins in CF

I do not know where Keaschall can actually play on defense to be successful

[Major League Ready]

On 8/26/2026 at 12:29 PM, LA Vikes Fan said:

This quote has little if anything to do with making personnel decisions. He is working on "earning back the trust of the fans". That is exactly what the CEO should do - big picture customer relations and brand management - but it's  far cry from making IL decisions. Remember, he is a CEO, not an absentee owner/controlling shareholder. His job is running the Twins organization, not just sitting back in the owner's suite clipping coupons. None of us shown that they have any idea of how involved he is with day to day decisions. Is he involved in big decisions? Of course he is he's the CEO. Is putting Buxton on the IL a big enough decision for the organization that the CEO is involved in making the decision as compared to just being advised?  No one here knows. 

Look, a know a lot of you hate the Pohlads, And with good reason, I might add. Jim was a mediocrity at running a baseball franchise, Joe was beyond bad, he was a complete disaster. Poor decision maker, zero feel for customer/client relations and communication. Tom is better than Joe and by a wide margin. He gets the "communication thing" and seems at least to genuinely understand that the Twins are nothing without customer loyalty. We don't know if he's involved in personnel decisions but if he is - he gets a B/B- for the trade deadline, an A- for the promotion of Culpepper, and a D or incomplete for the handling of Jenkins. I understand waiting on Jenkins to show you he's ready but he did that 2-3 weeks ago and it's time to get him up. All of those grades are be much better than Joe and frankly better than most of what Jim did, too.  We may actually have found the Pohlad who can tell his elbow from a hole in the ground and he's running the team. Let's not let the well deserved scorn for the family's ownership tenure get int the way of giving a guy who has shown some signs of competence a chance. 

I was always pretty indifferent to the Pohlads.  They didn't add much as owners but they spent consistent with revenue and let the baseball people run the show.  I think Tom Pohlad's decision to do a 180 on a rebuild is the dumbest thing I have ever seen from this organization. Had he been willing to spend significantly on a BP it would not have been quite as bad.  Instead he headed down a half-assing it path and a lot of people were just fine with it because they were not trading Ryan.

They were really well-position to add impact players by trading Lopez, Ryan, and Jeffers.  They managed to turn that opportunity into absolutely nothing.  Does anyone here think Milwaukee would have squandered this opportunity.  They probably could have gotten something for Larnach too.  Being better than Joe Pohlad was a low bar but Tom managed to screw this up as badly as possible.  We will never know exactly what the cost was to "go fo it" but it probably starts with Tolle and Arias which alone would have made us considerably better for 6+ years.  This was an opportunity to elevate the organization.  The entire league expected us to trade Ryan.  Tom wanted to believe he was the hero when he simply knows squat about building a MLB organization and he should have left those decisions in the hands of someone who has built a MBL organization.  This coming from a guy who tended to defend the Pohlad's or at least say they are not as bad as they are made out to be.

[ewen21]

How is WIllie Mays relevant here?  Willie Mays was 42 years old playing in his last baseball games in the World Series for a team that went on an amazing unlikely run.   He made some flubs in the WS at 42 years of age for a Mets team that didn't have a whole lot of depth.  Since the author spent three paragraphs on this I feel it necessary to say Mays had 101 more hits from age 35 to the end of his career than Buxton has in his twelve seasons playing with the Twins.  Buxton is 32 years old and is once again looking like he's going to be shut down for the season.  When Mays we 32 years old he had a 10.6 WAR, drove over 100 runs and would go on to have a +10 WAR in his 33 year old and 34 year old seasons.

[ewen21]

10 hours ago, old nurse said:

It means you need to have a backup plan. Last year it was Bader. This year it was Outman . The conundrum is that a healthy Buxton is one of the best players in baseball.

Protons, neutrons and electrons  The dead horse of trade Buxton has been beaten down to that 

 

Is he?  He has a .248 lifetime batting average, a .309 OBP, isn't even in the top 50 for career OPS+ for active players.  I would disagree with the bolded because even when he is healthy, that is what he gives us offensively.   No, he is not "one of the best players in baseball".   Not to me, nor is he to most every baseball fan who do not have a Twins Daily account.

[MeleMouth]

On 8/26/2026 at 10:22 AM, nicksaviking said:

He hasn't stopped talking about 'competing' and putting the best lineup on the field all year. He doesn't have to actually call the shots; his interim GM knows he'd prefer the face of the franchise out there to sell tickets.

The idea that a CEO isn't involved in deciding who plays and has delegated it entirely to his hired management is based on (1) generalizing among all CEO's and owners, based on an assumption, but not knowledge, of how the world works; (2) having never heard of Jerry Jones and Hal Steinbrenner, among other sports team owners; and (3) ignoring TP's comments about involvement with the team.

To elaborate on #1, imagine that the Twins are a widget business and Buxton accounts for 15% of the company's sales or value. Assume further for the sake of this example the Buxton product had a major defect, for which the choices are to pull the product off the market to fix it for the future, risking a portion of current sales, or to leave it on the market, with a good but not certain chance that the defect could get worse, requiring additional time off the market. The CEOs of most, but not all, companies will be very heavily informed and probably involved in the key decisions about whether or not to take that product off the market for a while. Now, some CEOs actually do care more about their golf times and don't want to be responsible for major product decisions, but most CEOs, particularly most good CEOs, do.  

It is actually highly unlikely Byron Buxton suffered a major injury and Tom Pohlad just said to Zoll, "hey, you run the team and do whatever you think is best." It is also highly unlikely that a GM like Zoll on a short-term contract who wants to keep his job is not doing his best to ensure that his decision aligns with what the CEO wants, and "doing his best" means "having multiple conversations with the CEO that are as direct as possible."