ESPN insider Buster Olney wrote ‘it’s worth considering’ trading star center fielder Byron Buxton

Olney mentioned Buxton as a potential trade candidate this summer in “Olney: MLB 2025 trade deadline X factors to watch.”

Buxton, who is under team control for the next three seasons at $15.1 million per year, likely isn’t going anywhere, as his contract includes a no-trade clause that he requested.

But who knows, maybe he would waive it to go to his childhood team, the Atlanta Braves, or a big market squad like the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers.

Still, most signs point toward Buxton remaining a Twin for the next three seasons.

Trading Buxton would allow the Twins to shed payroll and acquire some top prospects and/or young major leaguers on the rise.

But, it’s hard to imagine a return for the Twins’ star center fielder that would be enticing enough for Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey to pull the trigger on a trade.

Trading Byron Buxton would not be a good idea for the Twins

Let’s say the Twins fall out of contention before the trade deadline and end up selling.

If so, it would make more sense to trade away a starting pitcher like Joe Ryan or Pablo López than Buxton, as the rest of the starting rotation has been fantastic and there are promising options in Triple-A, such as David Festa and Zebby Matthews.

Moving Buxton, who has the most fWAR on the Twins this season with 1.6, would give Minnesota another hole in a lineup that has been inconsistent the past couple of years.

Additionally, attendance has been scarce at Target Field largely due to the Pohlad family’s lack of spending on roster additions this past offseason ($10.25 million), even though the team had a shocking late-season collapse last year. Now imagine how much worse it would be if the Twins traded their franchise player.

After winning eight straight, the Twins appear to be playoff contenders despite their awful start to the season.

If they continue to see success, it would be difficult to justify moving Buxton if he is healthy and still performing at an elite level.

Along with being one of the best defenders and baserunners in the league, Buxton has a .264/.304/.520 (126 OPS+) slash line with nine home runs and eight stolen bases this season.