Phillies Trade Idea Lands Twins' Byron Buxton for Mick Abel and 26th Ranked Prospect

Phillies Trade Idea Lands Twins’ Byron Buxton for Mick Abel and 26th Ranked Prospect originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Philadelphia Phillies are clear buyers at the MLB trade deadline, and there is a lot that the team needs to resolve by then. While the bullpen is an issue, there’s another area that is in dire need of an upgrade: center field.

Johan Rojas and Brandon Marsh aren’t cutting it, and the team needs to explore other options. One way to resolve that issue is by making a trade, and a recent trade idea would be a perfect fit for the Phillies.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report concocted a trade idea that would be a dream scenario for the Phillies if it were to occur. Miller proposed that the Phillies could acquire Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton for Mick Abel and the Phillies’ 26th-ranked prospect.

“2020 first-round pick Mick Abel would be a major chip to part with,” Miller writes. “But the Phillies do have an excess of starting pitching, with Andrew Painter presumably close to ready for his MLB debut and Aaron Nola presumably returning from the IL at some point.”

Miller’s trade idea would land the Phillies their new starting center fielder, in exchange for Abel and Alirio Farrabus, a catcher prospect ranked 26th overall in the Phillies system.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Mick Abel (40) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park.Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Buxton in 2025 is having an incredible season. In 66 games played, Buxton has 72 hits, 53 runs scored, 10 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs, 51 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, 25 walks, and 74 strikeouts.

He’s batting .286 with a .575 slugging percentage and a .928 OPS. Buxton, the former All-Star, Gold Glove recipient, and Platinum Glove recipient, is in the middle of one of his best seasons offensively.

If he can stay healthy, which has been an issue in his career thus far, Buxton could be on pace for his best season in his 11-year career. He’d resolve their center field issues, add a much-needed righty bat in the heart of the lineup.

Buxton is signed through the 2028 season and is on a $100 million deal. While he’d be an expensive contract to pick up, the Phillies are in win-now mode. Buxton, for the cost of Abel and a lower-ranked prospect, would be an incredible pickup.

Miller presented this idea as an “outrageous” trade, and there’s good reason why. While Abel has been solid, moving him for Buxton would be highway robbery for the Phillies.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.

Phillies Trade Idea Lands Twins’ Byron Buxton for Mick Abel and 26th Ranked Prospect

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