Article: Twins Transactions: Buxton Activated, Optioned to AAA

[John Bonnes]

Minnesota Twins activate OF Byron Buxton from DL, option him to AAA-Rochester.

 

I'm surprised there is any controversy about this whatsoever. But controversy there is.

 

Buxton can only play in four positions – the three outfield spots and designated hitter - and three are filled with some of the best news of the Twins season. Those productive prospects need (and should be rewarded) at-bats right now. Surely we're not suggesting sitting Eddie Rosario (750 OPS, 23yo), Aaron Hicks (767 OPS, 25yo) or Miguel Sano(873 OPS, 22yo)?That leaves one spot, right field, which belongs to Torii Hunter, who is a top of the order hitter with the second most home runs on the team. Hunter needs his rest, but that’s two days per week. Nobody can think it makes sense to call up Buxton to play two days per week.

 

I guess the argument is that the Twins could maybe sit Rosario and Hicks and Sano one day per week and Hunter two and shuffle people around a bit, but to what end? Playing every day seemingly isn’t hurting these young guys. We want to disrupt things so we can jam Buxton, coming off a thumb injury, into the majors without more than a dozen at-bats in AAA? That seems a little extreme.

 

Not to mention, the Twins might have done him a favor here. He could have stayed at AAA rehabbing for 2-3 more weeks and they wouldn’t have had to burn the option year on him. They could have waited until the end of the month to make that decision when they knew whether or not they were really in this wild card race, kept him on the roster and saved that option year (although it would have cost them some service time). If anything, that's where I think the controversy would be.

 

Hey, we all want our new toy. I get that. But we also sometimes need to wait for Christmas.

 

For what its worth, my view is not a reflection on Buxton. He looks like he could be every bit as elite as we thought he was going to be. Rather, things have changed since his original callup. And while I’m still awfully hesitant to buy into Rosario’s 70:10 K:BB ratio, he deserves that chance to fail at this point and so does Aaron Hicks. That, by the way, is good news, not bad news.

 

If we want to do some hand-wringing about not jamming Buxton onto the 25-man roster, let’s wait until the offseason. That’s when the real controversy should start.

 

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[savvyspy]

I would start by giving him the 71 games where Nunez, Robinson, and Escobar started as either the DH or a corner outfielder. Hicks still can't hit left handed pitching so there's a few ABs there as well.

 

If a 40 year old Hunter is taking significant playing time from the the #1 prospect in the league then you have issues. If a 40 year old Hunter is taking playing time away from a team that the GM quit on and is a dozen games under .500 after the break, that's malpractice. 

 

I just don't buy that at bats are at such a premium that you have to stash your top talent at AAA when 29 other teams figure it out.

[Vanimal46]

The real question that relates towards the Buxton dilemma. Where do you view this team? Do you think they can get through this slump and still be contending in September? Or did you wave the white flag and it's over?

 

If it's the latter, then Torii should begin the decline in playing time to make room for younger talent. A 39 year old should not have the most playing time out of all OF options on a non-contending team. 

[troyhobbs]

 

The real question that relates towards the Buxton dilemma. Where do you view this team? Do you think they can get through this slump and still be contending in September? Or did you wave the white flag and it's over?

 

If it's the latter, then Torii should begin the decline in playing time to make room for younger talent. A 39 year old should not have the most playing time out of all OF options on a non-contending team. 

I think it's the white flag.  Hold people's interest until football kicks off.  At least the Vikings can't lose more than 1 game a week.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Been mentioned elsewhere, but the corresponding move was that Nate Hanson was released. A MN guy, a nice guy, a player of many positions and a team-first guy. So, bummer for Nate.

[Eephus]

I think the real question is: Can Buxton stop getting hurt?

[SF Twins Fan]

 

I would start by giving him the 71 games where Nunez, Robinson, and Escobar started as either the DH or a corner outfielder. Hicks still can't hit left handed pitching so there's a few ABs there as well.

 

If a 40 year old Hunter is taking significant playing time from the the #1 prospect in the league then you have issues. If a 40 year old Hunter is taking playing time away from a team that the GM quit on and is a dozen games under .500 after the break, that's malpractice. 

 

I just don't buy that at bats are at such a premium that you have to stash your top talent at AAA when 29 other teams figure it out.

Well seeing as how Nunez hasn't played in the outfield since 4/25 and Escobar since 7/7 that point is basically null.  Escobar basically hasn't played in the outfield since Hicks returned from AAA.  So neither of those players are taking playing time away from Buxton.  It makes absolutly so sense in rushing Buxton back up to the majors.  He missed a month and a half with a thumb injury and has only played in 3 games. The Twins aren't going to win the world series this year and even bringing Buxton up will not make the Twins world series contenders.  Basically all three major groups (SP, BP and hitting) have been awful since the all star break.  They aren't stashing the best prospect in all of baseball in AAA.  They are letting him play a handful of games to get his confidence back up, so when they do call him up (likely in September) he can build off of what he's doing in AAA and be ready for next season.

[Thrylos]

Trade Hunter for $100 or so, and play the rest of the season with an OF or Rosario, Buxton and Hicks.  While you are at it, DFA Robinson and bring up Danny Ortiz and start him at LF against LHP instead of Rosario.   Or bring up Arcia.  Might be better off overall...

Edited August 10, 2015 by Thrylos

[jimmer]

Really?  On a rebuilding team we should be making sure we give our 40 year old playing time over the #1 prospect in the game?  That's hilarious.  Why on earth would we do that, especially on a sinking ship of a season and on a team that is supposed to be building for the future? And we think a guy with an OBP barely over .300 is a top of the order guy.  Cracking me up.

 

I can sort of buy the 'not rushing him back from injury' excuse, though.  That's been tossed around on a few threads.

Edited August 10, 2015 by jimmer

[Thrylos]

 

 

Been mentioned elsewhere, but the corresponding move was that Nate Hanson was released. A MN guy, a nice guy, a player of many positions and a team-first guy. So, bummer for Nate.

 

Bummer and a great guy, but at 28, playing only 17 games in AAA and a .650 OPS, he was taking a deserved kids' job.  Almost Tobyesque...

[jimmer]

Ryan already gave up on his team at the deadline, now he's holding back valuable experience for Buxton and May (and Berrios too,probably) which is vital for rebuilding.  Keep delaying the adjustment period in a year like this?

Edited August 10, 2015 by jimmer

[jimbo92107]

 

I think the real question is: Can Buxton stop getting hurt?

One encouraging thing is the rise of Bryce Harper. In his first year, some were wondering if Harper could avoid nagging little injuries, much like Buxton. I derive some hope from Harper's progress in that area. Buxton is a smart guy. I'm sure he's aware that if he keeps breaking fingers and whacking heads with teammates, he's not going to do the Twins much good.

[jimmer]

 

I think the real question is: Can Buxton stop getting hurt?

I've been comparing him to Eric Davis since the first few times I saw him play.  Through the roof talent on both sides of the ball, always getting hurt.

[SydneyTwinsFan]

For me the only head-scratcher is why option him now instead of letting him continue on rehab for 10-15 days.  I'm totally on board though with giving the kid more than 3 games after being out for 6 weeks before calling him back up.  Major League veterans can probably get back up to speed after an injury break with only a few rehab games, but we're talking about a kid with barely 50 PA above AA ball - a week or two teeing off on AAA pitching isn't going to hurt him or the team.

[jokin]

 

For me the only head-scratcher is why option him now instead of letting him continue on rehab for 10-15 days.  I'm totally on board though with giving the kid more than 3 games after being out for 6 weeks before calling him back up.  Major League veterans can probably get back up to speed after an injury break with only a few rehab games, but we're talking about a kid with barely 50 PA above AA ball - a week or two teeing off on AAA pitching isn't going to hurt him or the team.

 

I don't think anyone disputes this, but taking him off rehab after 3 of the possible 20 days makes it look like it's probably not going to be a week or two.

[Seth Stohs]

This is such a non-issue. Buxton has now played three games in the last 6-7 weeks. Letting him play another 10-12 in AAA isn't hurting anyone. The Twins OF can manage. He'll be up within 20 days so that the option doesn't count. it's all good. Much ado about nothing. 

 

 

[Platoon]

I agree with Jimmer. We are now basing our developmental decisions for next year on a 40 yr old OF vs an important cog in any chance of future team success? And for the record, what exactly does a top of the order hitter look like? Frankly we currently do not have one. And if someone can think of anyone on this team that would fill any batting order of a contending teams 1, 3, 4, or likely 5 spot please list them. Doziers power in the 2 hole might play, but he's is the only one.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I don't think anyone disputes this, but taking him off rehab after 3 of the possible 20 days makes it look like it's probably not going to be a week or two.

 

That's my one issue with it. If he's on a major league rehab, he gets paid a major league salary. If he is optioned, he makes his minor league wage. That's the one part that bothers me.

[John Bonnes]

 

This is such a non-issue. Buxton has now played three games in the last 6-7 weeks. Letting him play another 10-12 in AAA isn't hurting anyone. The Twins OF can manage. He'll be up within 20 days so that the option doesn't count. it's all good. Much ado about nothing. 

 

Seth, are you saying if a player is sent down for less than 20 days to the minors, the option doesn't count? If so, I did not know that.

[Otto von Ballpark]

That's my one issue with it. If he's on a major league rehab, he gets paid a major league salary. If he is optioned, he makes his minor league wage. That's the one part that bothers me.

Any theory why? You TD guys have some connections with the Twins, right? Why option him so quickly into his rehab?

[John Bonnes]

To suggest that Hunter should be benched for Buxton is ... more than a little crazy. This team deserves every chance to either sink or swim for the rest of this year based on their results, I completely understand the frustration people are feeling after a 3-12 run. But that reaction seems to be people letting their frustration get the better of them. 

 

If, at the start of the season, I'd have told this group that the Twins would be one game under .500 on 8/10 and within a handful of games from the Wild Card, nobody would've suggested they look towards next year. If, instead of going 2-8 in their last 10 games, they went 8-2 but had the exact same record, exact same stats, exact same everything else, the perception would be totally different. Nobody would be saying "White Flag!". They's be saying "Look at the progress Hicks and Rosario and Sano are making! It's coming together!"

 

The fact that there is no easy place for Buxton to play isn't an indictment against the Twins - it's deserves acclaim. So many positions are crowded with young talent (and with a 40-year-old free agent who is defying his age) that they can't find playing time for the top prospect that tore up AA for half the year so they're putting him in AAA for a few weeks. Terry Ryan should be putting on the top of his resume.

 

I'm not denying that Twins have problems; I'll be happy to dive into how they've handled catcher, shortstop, DH (previously) and the bullpen. But criticism of this area makes me question the credibility of the criticizer. If you're not happy with the outfield situation, I don't know you can be happy with any baseball situation, ever. 

[clutterheart]

 

If we are worring abiut Buxton's options something went terribly wrong in his career path.

 

Its 20 days. Its fine.

[jimmer]

I have a hard time applauding the team for having a 40 year old poor defensive RF with a .303 OBP. That's a guy who has zero business blocking anyone.  If the argument is about not being able to find a place to play Buxton, it's easy.  You sit the 40 year old poor defender who can't get on base and has no future with the team.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

To suggest that Hunter should be benched for Buxton is ... more than a little crazy. This team deserves every chance to either sink or swim for the rest of this year based on their results, I completely understand the frustration people are feeling after a 3-12 run. But that reaction seems to be people letting their frustration get the better of them.

 

If, at the start of the season, I'd have told this group that the Twins would be one game under .500 on 8/10 and within a handful of games from the Wild Card, nobody would've suggested they look towards next year. If, instead of going 2-8 in their last 10 games, they went 8-2 but had the exact same record, exact same stats, exact same everything else, the perception would be totally different. Nobody would be saying "White Flag!". They's be saying "Look at the progress Hicks and Rosario and Sano are making! It's coming together!"

 

The fact that there is no easy place for Buxton to play isn't an indictment against the Twins - it's deserves acclaim. So many positions are crowded with young talent (and with a 40-year-old free agent who is defying his age) that they can't find playing time for the top prospect that tore up AA for half the year so they're putting him in AAA for a few weeks. Terry Ryan should be putting on the top of his resume.

 

I'm not denying that Twins have problems; I'll be happy to dive into how they've handled catcher, shortstop, DH (previously) and the bullpen. But criticism of this area makes me question the credibility of the criticizer. If you're not happy with the outfield situation, I don't know you can be happy with any baseball situation, ever.

Hunter is defying his age? His OPS+ is his worst in 12 years, and his "starting job" also requires giving regular starts to Shane Robinson. I do not think a suggestion to bench him, even just half time or so, for another outfielder is crazy at all, particularly not the #2 prospect in baseball.

 

And if you told me before the season they would be .500 at this point, I would be neither excited nor impressed. There are a lot of different ways to achieve a .500 record, and the Twins 2015 way has felt particularly empty in some ways so far.

[John Bonnes]

Hunter's 740 OPS is still a mark that will be nearly impossible for a 21-year-old center fielder to match. And that's just numbers, not the personal stuff. Benching Hunter guts the team of one of its more popular leaders. It also puts an enormous amount of pressure on a rookie to replace that leader (which is he is unlikely to do on the field and impossible to do in the locker room) when he already has enough pressure on him. I can't think of a better way to ruin a kid, even one who seems as mentally tough as Buxton. 

 

I can see Buxton having a role on this team this year. There could be an injury, or he could serve as the fourth outfielder for September when the minor leagues are finished. But replacing Hunter for Buxton now?  It's so far removed from reality I honestly feel like asking it in an interview with management, coaching or players would get you laughed out for the room. And that doesn't just go for the Twins. That goes for 29 other MLB teams, too. 

[BeenHazy]

 

That's my one issue with it. If he's on a major league rehab, he gets paid a major league salary. If he is optioned, he makes his minor league wage. That's the one part that bothers me.

 

Seth, are you saying if a player is sent down for less than 20 days to the minors, the option doesn't count? If so, I did not know that.

 

Per Cot's:

 

If a player’s optional assignment(s) to the minors total less than 20 days in one season, an option is not used.

 

I Think we'll see Buxton again in 19 days or so, after he's done paying for Perkins and Dozier's all-star bonuses.

 

[DaveW]

The Twins outfield has something like a combined OPS+ between 100-103.

 

I'm not sure that warrants "if that doesn't pleas you nothing can please you!"

 

Also, the minute Terry Ryan refused to make any relevant move at the deadline and continues to not make moves to improve the team he made it clear the Twins have no real plans of contending this year. Hunter hasn't played poorly this year, but he also hasn't played great. He is at best an average hitter for his position (and that's being very kind) and at best an average Fielder for his position (super kind) who isn't going to be getting better and isn't going to be around after this year with the club. There is literally zero, and I mean zero reason why Buxton shouldn't be at the very least taking the at bats in the 2-3games a week that Hunter doesn't play anyways.

 

What it all comes down to is Terry being uber conservative because he is able to, there is absolutely zero accountability for a guy who was named "general manager until he doesn't want to any more" despite 1 playoff series win in 17 years, by an ownership group who's 1st,2nd, 3rd, and 4th priorities are profit profit profit.

[glunn]

Moderator note -- towards the end of the Buxton demotion thread I saw some posts that went over the line in terms of trolling and bickering.  I am asking people not to repeat that behavior here.

[DaveW]

Also Bonnes, 3-12, they aren't contenders at this point with this club. Period, the only shot they would have to turn things around and to contend would be to cut the fat and bring up some superior players with actual upside: Berrios, Buxton, etc

 

As far as "leadership" goes, where has been the leadership when the Twins have completely imploded 3-12 against some very very mediocre teams overall?

Edited August 11, 2015 by DaveW

[drjim]

Not saying they haven't earned it, but people are really in a bad place with the front office when they are killing them for no brainer obvious moves like playing Buxton in AAA for a couple of weeks before bringing him back up.