This Byron Buxton trade idea just doesn’t add up

The Minnesota Twins are quickly fading into obscurity, and the primary reason was on display over the weekend. The Detroit Tigers, except for Friday’s Twins’ victory, dominated the series. It was another reminder of the gap that exists between the Tigers at the top of the division and where the Twins currently are.

More specifically, for the Twins, it was a series that pushed them closer to selling at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline. It’s a conversation that Derek Falvey wasn’t ready to have last week, but one that is only going to grow louder in the coming weeks.

In fact, with one of their latest trade ideas, Bleacher Report placed an exclamation point on the idea of the Twins being sellers. Labeled as an “outrageous trade” idea, Bleacher Report suggests the Twins move Byron Buxton to the Philadelphia Phillies for former first-round pick Mick Abel and low-level catching prospect Alirio Ferrebus.

Outrageous is certainly one way to describe that trade because there is no scenario where the Twins make that deal for Buxton, who is under contract through 2029. If Buxton were a rental, sure, that trade would be a best-case scenario for the Twins, as they would land a promising pitcher who can ascend toward the top of their rotation, with the lottery ticket to sweeten the deal. Even then, the Twins going through with moving Buxton would leave the fanbase fractured.

This Byron Buxton deal would be hard to explain to anyone

Buxton’s current contract also includes a no-trade clause that allows him to block any deal he is involved in. The idea of the Twins trading Buxton is similar to the idea of Carlos Correa being traded–it’s just not within the realm of possibility.

Circling back to Abel, if the Twins make closer Jhoan Duran available, he would be a best-case scenario as a potential return. The one thing Bleacher Report did get right is the idea of the Twins needing a young starting pitcher who can be at the center of their rotation for the seasons ahead. Abel would check that box. The Phillies have been aggressive with their deadline deals in the past, and that makes them a team the Twins should want to do business with before the month is over.