Byron Buxton Would Leave The Twins In Proposed 3-Team Blockbuster

Byron Buxton signed a 7-year, $100 million contract with the Minnesota Twins in 2022, despite the fact that the talented outfielder simply can't stay on the field consistently.

Repeated injury problems have cost Buxton over 700 games in his 10-year career, as he's topped the 100-game played mark just twice. The 102 he participated in last season were the most he's played in seven years. But with power, speed and elite defense in centerfield (when he's able to be out there), he's a tantalizing talent that some teams may want to consider taking a chance on.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has proposed a wild three-team blockbuster that would see the Twins finally cut bait on Buxton, shipping him to the Houston Astros. The suggested deal would look like this:

Houston Astros receive:

CF Byron Buxton
Cash considerations from MIN

Baltimore Orioles receive:

RHP J.P. France from HOU

Minnesota Twins receive:

1B/DH Ryan Mountcastle (from BAL)
IF Max Wagner from BAL
LHP Colton Gordon from HOU

Aside from Kyle Tucker, the Astros have had trouble getting good production out of their outfield in recent years, and Buxton would be a dynamic addition (if he's able to play).

Houston already has a nice cache of young pitchers, and in this deal, they'd be giving up a hurler, who, while injured most of this past year, had a tremendous rookie season at the advanced age of 28 in 2023 in the Astros rotation.

The Orioles need pitching, and why wouldn't they move on from Mountcastle, who hasn't come close to living up to the power potential he showed a couple of seasons back. Plus, of course, they have a plethora of young offensive talent waiting to find a spot on the roster. Coby Mayo, despite a dreadful 17-game trial in 2024, is a stud waiting to happen. Moving Mountcastle would open up that spot for the young corner infielder.

The Twins get three pretty decent pieces in this deal, plus alleviate themselves of the $60 million or so that they still owe Buxton.