Byron Buxton’s Health is the Twins’ Biggest Offseason Key

Finding Gray’s replacement (Paddack is Maeda’s replacement) and Buxton’s health are the two most impactful, game/season changing off season factors for 2024.

Here are a few more reasons Buxton’s health is so critical:

1. In a reduced payroll environment, $/production is key. Getting production out of our 2nd highest paid player is critical.

2. Along those same lines, BB in CF means no additional $’s need be spent to solve that issue. Castro, Gordon and Martin can cover all the games BB cannot play.

3. Having the extra D and bat from BB provides more flexibility re trading Kepler - if desired/need be. An outfield of BB, Kepler and Wallner would be really strong both offensively and defensively.  But if Kepler had to be moved, our backup CF options plus Larnach and even Kiriloff could play LF.

4. Buxton in CF means no more discussion about moving Lewis there (not that is even being considered).

I think they need to build the team without Buxton even if it means increasing or not cutting payroll

Perhaps if Byron is fully healthy and has his legs under him, he can rebuild his swing before April to become a productive player. No doubt, the bum legs compromised his stroke at the plate.

I was overjoyed when Buxton signed the extention. Because Buxton is a difference maker at CF and with the incentives based on games played, he be well worth the $. If he can't play CF IMO he shouldn't play. What I'd like to see is have Buxton play enough games at CF to help win the division & have him 100% in the PS. Then I'd be happy.

It'd be hard to determine how many games he'll play. IMO they took care of the problem last year but he still has a chronic knee problem. IMO it can be controled so he can make a significant impact on this team.

Yeah, I’m not falling for this again. Is the winning percentage that dramatic last 2-3 years?  I think they can find someone to throw out there in season if the internal options don’t work out. BB should be considered a bonus but not a real part of plans moving forward. 

You can reuse this story every year until his contract is over or he is forced to retire do to injuries.

"Buxton and whether or not he'll be on the field, and where" fatigue hits hard every off-season...and during the season for that matter.  I could only imagine how frustrating it is for him.

Glad to hear he's getting closer to baseball activities.

Not sure a healthy Buxton is anything special anymore. Might just be a good field no hit outfielder. 

3 hours ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Good news regarding Buck's health and the possibility of playing CF next season.  That, and as Brett noted that Keirsey did not get chosen in the rule 5 draft, I say let's roll with what we have.  

I now believe the Twins believe Buxton will be healthy to start the season. Castro will play on the days when Buxton needs a break. Martin will be ready by mid-season and take over if Buxton is done. That is what I think the Twins are thinking and will now get pitching.

Do I think Buxton will stay healthy - No.

Pinning the success of the team on Buxton being healthy is just lunacy at this point.  Anything you get from him is a bonus.

How many times is Buxton going to be discussed here? Must be a slow day at the office. Sorry but it is really getting old. Rinse and repeat the same articles and here we are again. Why are the writers here so enamored with a part-time player that has done nothing to help this team go to the next level. Even in 2023 he was not a factor in the playoffs and they won 3 games and a series without him. The Twins success does NOT depend on Buxton. It depends on the other 25, 30 or more players who actually play and contribute on a regular basis. Nine years he's put on a major league uniform and we've had a broken Buxton in almost everyone of them. His average stats over those 9 years is a .239 Batting Average, 12 HR's, 33RBI's and 9 Stolen Bases. People here clamor over how he is worth every penny of his $15M contract and the Twins never would have gotten him that cheap had it not been for his injured history. Anyone who tells me a player who has numbers like his average stats, is worth $15M a year, drinks too much Kool-Aid. Please ask him if he'll waive his NO Trade clause in his contract so he becomes another teams problem. Because when you have to have another player to cover for him, that is all he is. A Problem.

If Buxton can field like he did before he was hurt, he is a HUGE positive to the Twins that only a fielder with the skills of Taylor could replace.

If both can/do not play the field next year, a giant hole is the Twins team.

I see the biggest problem with winning games in ‘23 was that we played guys that weren’t healthy. Bucks knee hurt and he sucked playing with pain. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE DL. If his pain is gone with the last surgery then he has a very good Allstar potential season ahead (until he gets injured). 
Correa played thru pain for months and sucked with RISP. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE DL. If his health holds up in ‘24, he has another Allstar  weekend ticket.  
If Ryan would have gotten treatment for his minor injury instead of hiding it, we could have played a healthy albeit not as talented SP.  HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE DL. If Ryan pitches like he did before he got hurt. He may get a ‘24 Allstar weekend ticket. 
Why they trotted out injured players to lose games instead of giving them time off is ridiculous. Why they stuck with Gallo deep into his slump was ridiculous.  
in ‘24, if we just add some solid role players, we will have plenty of depth. We have enough developing AAA talent to break glass incase of emergency as well. Mgmnt has to learn from the mistakes of ‘23.  
Players get hurt and need time off. If they are hurt. Heal there bodies even if you hurt their ego.  
As fanatics, please stop saying players suck because they get hurt. Injuries happen. Its more of an injury mgmnt issue.

Stay healthy boys, we got a WS to go win. 

1 minute ago, ValleySpringsFan said:

OK, the knee surgery was a success and rehab is going great. My worry is less about the knees and more about between the ears. Will Buxton be able to play with confidence? Swing freely at the plate and run freely in the field? Or will he be focused on not getting injured again? Really pulling for the guy to figure it out this season, both for the Twins sake and his own.

You have to remember who you are talking about. If his bad knee is finally healed there is another knee he'll probably injure. Or pull a hamstring, or tear an achilles, or stub a toe, or break a tooth eating some pudding. He's over-rated and over-hyped to the extreme.

Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me ten times and shame on my parents for having me. 

New Year - Same headline. 

Well here we go again.  Another off season and another one where we are to be left hoping Buxton will bless us with hus presence.  I just laugh at these people calling Buxton a superstar.  What has he done in 8 years to be credited with that honor?  Riding the injured list much more than playing.  Yet we are supposed to believe our whole season is determined by whether or not he plays?  Oh please.  

Buxton has gave the fans ZERO reason to trust in him being on the field more than 70-80 games.  I don't think he will give the Twins 60 games in CF.   I'll gladly be proven wrong , but seriously what has he ever done to give anyone confidence in his durability????? From day 1 he has had health issues and that will not get better with age.  Only once in his entire career has his games played total reached three digits. ONE TIME.  His Career high in rbi's is 51!!!  

Counting on him is like counting on the lottery to fix your finances.

The fact is, when you have a player with the physical skills like Buxton who is hurt ALL THE TIME you are going to find yourself on this endless loop of discussion.  It's unavoidable.  As a guy who likes to come to TD, I don't mind it.  It's like going on The Daily Norseman and having endless conversations about Kirk Cousins.  It comes with the territory. 

"WHEN HE'S HEALTHY..."  That pretty much says it all.  It's been correctly pointed out how "blah" his overall numbers are career wise.  It's been correctly pointed out how "good" his numbers and impact are when he's "healthy."  There is no denying that a HEALTHY Byron Buxton would be fantastic for the Twins in 2024. 

However, it has also been correctly pointed out that players like Correa, Lewis, Kirilloff, Miranda, and others are probably more important to the Twins in 2024.  Buxton is a Wildcard.  Anything we get from him should be considered a bonus.  He should not be prominent in any of their plans.  To fall into the never-ending trap of EXPECTING him to provide anything is refusing to learn from history and to continue to make the same mistake over and over again.  It should get someone fired.  It has also been correctly pointed out how many guys we played who were injured last year.  That's gotta stop.  

This is why I've advocated going after Tyler O'Neill in a trade with the Cardinals.  He gives you Gold Glove defense in LF and a power bat in your lineup capable of stealing 15-30 bases (provided Rocco lets him run).  When Buxton gets hurt (and he will, the only thing in question will be how severely) O'Neill could slide to CF if needed.  I think the "plan" should be to give Castro the full time job in CF once the inevitable injury happens.  Many years ago, the Twins traded for Cesar Tovar from the Reds.  In 1967 and 1968 he played EVERYWHERE.  By 1969 they decided he was good enough to be the fulltime LF and he also played a lot of CF in 1970 & 1971.  I think Castro has earned the opportunity to be a fulltime player until he plays his way out of it.