Nothing to see here, folks. That's what Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is saying when asked about the MLB rumor mill ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
The 32-year-old Buxton is a popular name these days. And with good reason. The three-time All-Star is fourth in the American League with 25 home runs and well on his way to surpassing the career-high 35 long balls he drilled last season.
His resume also includes a Silver Slugger Award, Gold Glove Award and Platinum Glove Award. He easily would be one of the best players on the trade market, except for one tiny detail: his seven-year, $100 million contract which runs through 2028 and carries with it a full no-trade clause, according to Spotrac.
“Nah,” Buxton said when asked whether he’d leave the Twins, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. “Which is why I got the no-trade.”
Just last week, The Athletic's Jim Bowden noted some of the top contenders could consider making a run at Buxton if he is willing to waive the no-trade clause, including the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees.
Also last week, ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel listed Buxton as the No. 2 trade deadline target. Among their best fits for the outfielder are the Yankees, Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.
But Buxton's reluctance to consider a trade is about more than just baseball.
“I got family,” Buxton said, per Heyman. “My family loves Minnesota. It’s a special place, not only for me but for my family. You’re not just moving me. You’re moving my family. And you’re moving what we have built in Minnesota.”
Honestly, though, this could be much ado about nothing. The Twins hit the All-Star break as winners in seven of their last 10 games. Despite their 48-49 record, Minnesota sits in third place in the American League Central, three games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians. And the Twins are tied with the Seattle Mariners for the third and final AL wild card.
FanGraphs gives Minnesota a 34.5% chance of making the playoffs, meaning the Twins are just as likely to be trade deadline buyers as they are sellers.