ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan just released a co-signed list of the top 25 players who could be traded this offseason, factoring in both likelihood and potential fits. Among the names was Byron Buxton, an All-Star the Braves reportedly pursued at the trade deadline, only for him to refuse to waive his no-trade clause for any team.
According to McDaniel and Passan, that has now changed. Buxton is showing a willingness to waive his no-trade clause after the Twins’ fire sale at last year’s deadline, which could reopen the door for conversations between Atlanta and Minnesota this offseason.
“Buxton is willing to waive his no-trade clause — and not just for Atlanta (he’s a Georgia native) — which puts the Twins in an interesting position,” Jeff Passan writes. “If the paucity of frontline free agent outfielders prompts a team to make an offer for Buxton, how seriously would Minnesota take it? And if Buxton goes, does that mean the Twins would be open to dealing some of their pitching, too? The Twins are one of the most fascinating teams this winter because of the possibilities at their disposal.”
McDaniel and Passan put the odds of Buxton being traded this offseason at 35%, a pretty significant shift from the deadline. They listed the Braves, Mets, Tigers, Reds, Phillies, and Royals as the best fits for the All-Star outfielder. According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, the Mets and Braves were the two teams that pushed hardest for Buxton at the trade deadline. Hayes also confirmed that Buxton could be far more willing to waive his no-trade clause this winter if the Twins don’t signal a real commitment to winning and continue leaning into a rebuild.
On the surface, the Braves’ need for another star outfielder isn’t nearly as obvious as their need in the rotation or bullpen. Ronald Acuña Jr. is one of the best players on the planet in right field, Michael Harris remains a highly productive center fielder, and Jurickson Profar was fantastic at the plate after returning from his 80-game PED suspension.
But dig a little deeper, and a move like this starts to make a lot of sense.
The Braves have an open DH spot with Marcell Ozuna hitting free agency. Acuña would benefit from periodic DH days given his injury history. And no player in baseball has battled more injuries than Byron Buxton. Jurickson Profar also graded out as a horrendous defender in left field, even if the sample size wasn’t very large.
Acquiring Buxton could be a creative solution to several overlapping concerns. When you’re talking about a talent of his caliber, sometimes the smart play is simply to get the guy in the building and figure out the optimal configuration later. Buxton would instantly become one of the Braves’ best players and provide the offensive jolt they sorely lacked this past season.
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