Should the Twins trade Byron Buxton? Probably not, but you never know when a team could surprise Minnesota with an undeniable trade offer. It's been reported that the Twins are not going to shop the superstar outfielder, but what happens if Minnesota is offered something BIG?
Buxton is a superstar. He can change the game with his bat, with his glove, and with his speed. As he is set to play on a global stage in the World Baseball Classic, teams may be intrigued even more by him. Let's have a look at three potential trades that the Twins cannot deny.
Los Angeles Dodgers trade Zyhir Hope, Jackson Ferris, & Dalton Rushing
The Dodgers are always looking to improve their team. The two-time defending World Series champs would love to have Buxton on the team, so they would give up a ton to acquire him.
Hope, 20, is one of three high-level outfield prospects for Los Angeles. He had strong glimpses in Double-A last season and is currently Los Angeles' No. 2 prospect and MLB's No. 20 prospect.
Ferris is a 21-year-old left-handed pitcher who is also within MLB's Top 100 prospects. He struck out 135 batters in Double-A across 126 innings.
The Dodgers have Will Smith signed through 2033, so trading Rushing could make sense. He would be a strong catcher of the future for the Twins.
Cincinnati Reds trade Chase Petty and Rhett Lowder
The Reds need another outfielder. They signed JJ Bleday, but they aren't quite fully there yet to get over the hump. The good news for the Reds is that they are loaded with young pitching: Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Chase Burns.
Petty and Lowder both still have high upside on the mound, so acquiring two arms in their early 20s could signify a brighter future. Who knows, the Twins may actually like this move. They drafted Petty and traded him in 2022 for Sonny Gray. Do they miss him? It's hard to tell, but if he becomes a stud, they'll surely regret letting him go.
New York Mets trade one of their three prized pitching prospects
The Mets are known to not sign pitchers long-term. Though Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong are a ways away from earning a bigger contract, now might be the time to trade one of them.
New York no longer has Brandon Nimmo, so the need for an outfielder is there. Buxton also brings that star power to New York, so parting ways with one of those three arms, among another player, could make sense for both sides.
Either way, we don't want to see Byron Buxton leave the Twins. But at the end of the day, MLB is a business and we should be ready to have our hearts broken in Minnesota. A deal that is too good to be true could come across their plate, which could see Buxton painfully get dealt.