Cory Provus Thinks Season Finale Might Be Byron Buxton’s Last As A Twin

Here's my RANT.

Give me the $1.7B and eliminate the current owners, and this team can be perennial playoff team and WS contender.

They do draft well and have been developing pitching better than they ever have.

Spending money wisely hasn't been this ownership's strong suit, in fact reading that they were willing to contract the team for $250M brings bile up for the depths.

Guarantee if you produce the team, you will get the fans. 

It is NOT the other way around Dearest Pohlads.

I guarantee a WS in 5 years or I will resign.  

While doing it, pay me substantially less than any other owner or top-level MLB guy, but if I win the WS then I collect a jackpot.

The MN Twins fans have been beaten into pessimistic submission.

I grew up in EGF, but before that lived in Hopkins and one of earliest ever memories was a game at the old Metropolitan Stadium, and I am tired of the MN fans being between down because supposedly we can't win in MN because it is a Small Market Team.

F--- That.

Is there risk, absolutely, but there are positives, but the negatives start at OWNERSHIP and are forced down the throats of everyone else while they are told to "Smiles everyone, Smiles".

OK Rant over.

PS - why yes, I am that confident, not arrogant and even though I have had a fantastic career elsewhere, I should have been in the business of building sports teams.

PSS - as a typical MN, I have to apologize for being so confident let alone expressing it.

PPSS - (this is like goodbye at your relatives, even in winter you stand outside the front door for an hour or two), Buxton WANTS to be here.  When was the last time the Twins had a talent, (yes I know he has been hurt), like this who wanted TO STAY.

Happy National Coffee Day everyone

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Why would the other owners give them free money that won't benefit the Twins and MLB interests as a whole? These aren't generous people, they only do anything to benefit themselves. So if the Twins are going to lower payroll even more, wouldn't the other owners say, 'Nope. We're not approving your investors. Deal with your debts like the rest of us do or sell the team.'

Because what happens between the Twins and their investors is something the other owners don't care about. Clearing debt from a franchise so they know it's fiscally viable and could command a higher sell-price? That they do care about. The larger teams will complain about the revenue sharing aspect (they complain about any revenue sharing, so eff them), but there's plenty of teams on the other end of the spectrum that will look at the Twins and see a team doing what they would also do...and one they'll be able to beat for the next few years, while also using them as an example in their next round of CBA negotiations/threats.

The other owners aren't giving up anything by allowing the Twins to sell part of their stake in the team, and the revenue-sharing money the Twins get is what the Twins were going to get, really. They might start to care if the Twins run bottom 5 payrolls for 5 straight seasons or something, but this doesn't impact the other owners much at all. And they really don't want to set any precedents that could open up a team's books any more than they have to.

18 hours ago, howeda7 said:

I don't understand this logic that they're going to trade Buxton/Pablo/Ryan? And do what? Have a $50 million payroll?

I think the Pohlads would consider this their absolute dream scenario. Yes.

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

But no other team is adding a half billion of bad business debt on to their franchises. The Twins selling below market value shouldn't impact future team sales since this is a known anomaly. 

Plus, won't this give other terrible mid-to-low market owners the green light to just do the same thing? Wouldn't the owners want to stop more Bear Sterns style demands for free money or else they'll ruin your economy?

They've been allowing it with several other teams for years.  The other others probably view revenue sharing as a cost of doing business in an extraordinarily lucrative business.  You pay the tax for 20 years and your franchise value will increase by a billion dollars independent of whether you win games or lose them, whether you run your business competently or not.   And, like others have said, the other owners probably want to preserve their own ability to go into lose-for-cash mode down the road too.  They like options.

I've said this multiple times this year, I cannot understand how a player of Buxton's caliber (when healthy) would want to stick around this organization. He's in the backend of his career, still has value and could play 3-5 years on a team where he gets a shot at a deep playoff run. After the debacle at the trade deadline they signaled they are not serious about winning.

I'll push back, this was not a bad pitching staff. Quality starters and a deep bullpen. After Lopez went on the IR, they struggled for a stretch, but most staffs will have a rough stretch, but usually it steadies. 

The lineup was a joke. Couldn't hit, field run and awful fundamentals and situational awareness. Some of this was on Rocco, some on Falvey. A serious organization would relieve both and get a new GM and manager that emphasize a lineup that could have complimented a strong staff. 

It was great to hear that it's about winning for Buxton. I hope he goes to a team that is committed to that goal as well. Maybe the Brewers would take him. 

2 hours ago, farmerguychris said:

I think the Pohlads would consider this their absolute dream scenario. Yes.

If that were true they could have done it in 2025. Or 2024. Or 2023. Nothing was stopping them. 

Just now, howeda7 said:

If that were true they could have done it in 2025. Or 2024. Or 2023. Nothing was stopping them. 

I think they were giving Joe the chance to do something - when they saw his efforts were not producing enough money to the bottom line - they went a different direction.

6 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Yep, exactly.  They'll sit back and let the TV money/revenue sharing roll in.  

This is the plan of teams like the Rockies, Pirates, As, Nats etc.  Being terrible is very profitable in MLB.   

Why didn't they do it years ago then? The TV $$ isn't really "rolling" in and is now more directly impacted by their winning/fan interest than it was before. 

2 minutes ago, farmerguychris said:

I think they were giving Joe the chance to do something - when they saw his efforts were not producing enough money to the bottom line - they went a different direction.

Who's "they"? Joe is the one who wanted to keep the team and not sell. If they gut the payroll to $70 million in 2026 it will be mostly Joe's doing. I assume the family members who wanted out are the ones selling their shares to new minority owners. 

1 minute ago, howeda7 said:

Who's "they"? Joe is the one who wanted to keep the team and not sell. If they gut the payroll to $70 million in 2026 it will be mostly Joe's doing. I assume the family members who wanted out are the ones selling their shares to new minority owners. 

The board comprised of 7 people with the last name Pohlad and soon 2 new minority investors.

4 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Plans change. I think we are looking at a small payroll next year. 

They may not go back up to $140 million but they certainly need to go down any further than the $95-100 million they are at currently. It's possible, but they won't be losing $$ at $100 million and completely torching your fan base right before you might be on strike for a year isn't good for the long-term value of the franchise.

3 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

The Correa contract was stopping them.  They couldn't meaningfully gut the payroll down to those levels without being able to move him.  Once they found they could, they pivoted immediately.

Why did they allow that contract (as well as the Pablo extension) in the first place when they were going to do their right-sizing bit less than a year later?  That's another story, and IMO the biggest single reason we find them in the predicament they are in today.

They signed Correa after Joe was put in charge. He wanted to go for it. It didn't work. I do agree that some of the family didn't like the extra losses/debt and that's why there was a push to sell. But I assume those most unhappy are the ones getting their $$ out in this deal.

I would be surprised if the Twins did not find a trade for Byron Buxton.  He will be 32 years old for the 2026 season and I cannot see how that fits into the clear rebuilding/payroll slashing plans of the team.  

It would be a trade maximization point too.  Not only is Buxton coming off perhaps the best year of his career, for most teams his $15 million salary plus bonuses is ridiculously low.  

Even with a career year from Buxton the Twins are a 90 game loser.  Next year they might be even worse and attendance is not going to be strong.   A trade of Buxton would require two of a teams absolutely top prospects plus additional compensation.  That would be a reasonable input of talent to a rebuild around Walker Jenkins.  

3 minutes ago, LyleCole said:

I would be surprised if the Twins did not find a trade for Byron Buxton.  

Twins can find what ever they choose; if Buxton says NO, end of discussion.

18 hours ago, LyleCole said:

I would be surprised if the Twins did not find a trade for Byron Buxton.  He will be 32 years old for the 2026 season and I cannot see how that fits into the clear rebuilding/payroll slashing plans of the team.  

It would be a trade maximization point too.  Not only is Buxton coming off perhaps the best year of his career, for most teams his $15 million salary plus bonuses is ridiculously low.  

Even with a career year from Buxton the Twins are a 90 game loser.  Next year they might be even worse and attendance is not going to be strong.   A trade of Buxton would require two of a teams absolutely top prospects plus additional compensation.  That would be a reasonable input of talent to a rebuild around Walker Jenkins.  

We must acknowledge that this entire process is completely in Byron Buxton's hands. It seems unlikely that the Twins will reach .500 next season in their wildest dreams, but it is always possible. As such, Buxton should want to play for a team that has tradition and an opportunity to reach the playoffs. Buxton's window is getting small and he no longer can decide his fate after next season. This is the winter he needs to call his shot. It is in Byron's hands at this time.

The return for Buxton could be substantial but I'm afraid people might be severely disappointed if a trade were to come to fruition. I have no idea what teams would be interested and willing to trade. St. Louis has a historic franchise, can find financial resources to add to the team, and is a low key place to play. Again, no idea of practical basis. The Cardinals have a prospect worth targeting. Of course, so do other teams.

Atlanta is constantly mentioned by people when any trade of Buxton is mentioned. It is a long way from Atlanta to Buxton's home town, Baxley. I can't see that as being necessarily favorable for or to Buxton.

Lastly, there was mention of Buxton loving his family life in Minnesota. I'm under the impression that the Buxton family is back in Baxley, except for the summer. All of the love for Minnesota also must come with the reality that Byron Buxton has his roots, home, and future life firmly in Baxley, Georgia. Maybe there is some information that can correct me. 

On 9/29/2025 at 11:12 AM, EGFTShaw said:

Give me the $1.7B and eliminate the current owners, and this team can be perennial playoff team and WS contender.

I guarantee a WS in 5 years or I will resign.  

While doing it, pay me substantially less than any other owner or top-level MLB guy, but if I win the WS then I collect a jackpot.
 

There are 15 teams in the bottom half of revenue.  Those 15 teams have won the WS exactly once in the past 20 years.  Let's do the math.  That's a total of 300 teams but you are going to equal that output in 5 years.  That's 60X the rate of the other organizations combined.  I am skeptical!

5 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

We must acknowledge that this entire process is completely in Byron Buxton's hands. It seems unlikely that the Twins will reach .500 next season in their wildest dreams, but it is always possible. As such, Buxton should want to play for a team that has tradition and an opportunity to reach the playoffs. Buxton's window is getting small and he no longer can decide his fate after next season. This is the winter he needs to call his shot. It is in Byron's hands at this time.

The return for Buxton could be substantial but I'm afraid people might be severely disappointed if a trade were to come to fruition. I have no idea what teams would be interested and willing to trade. St. Louis has a historic franchise, can find financial resources to add to the team, and is a low key place to play. Again, no idea of practical basis. The Cardinals have a prospect worth targeting. Of course, so do other teams.

Atlanta is constantly mentioned by people when any trade of Buxton is mentioned. It is a long way from Atlanta to Buxton's home town, Baxley. I can't see that as being necessarily favorable for or to Buxton.

Lastly, there was mention of Buxton loving his family life in Minnesota. I'm under the impression that the Buxton family is back in Baxley, except for the summer. All of the love for Minnesota also must come with the reality that Byron Buxton has his roots, home, and future life firmly in Baxley, Georgia. Maybe there is some information that can correct me. 

Well, the Twins leadership knows their plans better than we do, but I think when Buxton evaluates his baseball future he will see being traded to a contender being more in his interests than his comments to date about not wanting a trade which were mostly designed for public PR consumption than actual plans.

But the dismal showing of the team, the ownership situation, the change in managers, and the strong possibility that this team will just be going through the motions in front of sparse home field crowds will change what Buxton's real interests are in staying in MN.  

For the Twins, this is a huge opportunity to sell high on Buxton.  He not only is a good player but his contract is very manageable by a team whose ownership actually invests in the players of the team and wants to win.

But, then, I am not sure if the Twins management sees the world in realistic terms and I would not doubt we see another pretender on the field next season destined to lose 85-95 games.  

On 9/29/2025 at 7:58 PM, RpR said:

Twins can find what ever they choose; if Buxton says NO, end of discussion.

I think the chance of going to a team that is a real contender will outweigh any connection to MN.  And, the trade value of Buxton will most likely never be higher than in this offseason.  

That is a double witching hour set up for a trade.  

1 hour ago, LyleCole said:

I think the chance of going to a team that is a real contender will outweigh any connection to MN.  And, the trade value of Buxton will most likely never be higher than in this offseason.  

That is a double witching hour set up for a trade.  

Buxton is going nowhere except to Twins Spring Training next year.

Provus is bogus BS.