MLB insider makes unlikely Twins trade involving Byron Buxton, Astros, Reds

MLB insider Anthony Castrovince wrote an article titled “7 ridiculous trades we’d like to seeHe prefaced the article by saying these trades are unlikely and acknowledged they will anger fans. Twins fans are definitely not fans of any of the deals he proposed involving star center fielder Byron Buxton.

MLB’s Anthony Castrovince suggested unlikely Twins trade involving Byron Buxton, Astros and Reds

3) De Bux is moving here

Red gets: FROM Byron Buxton

Getting Astros: RHP Brady singer

Having twins: SS Tyson Lewis (Reds’ No. 4 prospect), OF Mason Neville (Reds’ No. 13 prospect), C Walker Janek (Astros’ No. 4 prospect), RHP Cole Hertzler (Astros’ No. 29 prospect)

Sure, the Twins get a ton of prospects in this deal. But prospects are fates. Buxton is coming off an MVP-caliber season while being paid just over $16 million, while some players are making more than $30 million per year.

At first glance, it seems like the Twins would get a good return in this deal. It’s a good performance, but Buxton should provide an even better return for Minnesota. Lewis is the only one of the prospects in this industry who belongs to this MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects. If Minnesota trades Buxton, it would have to receive someone else considered one of the top prospects in the game.

For the Reds, this trade would make perfect sense. They need help on offense and could use another outfielder. They have plenty of starting pitching depth, so they could afford to lose Singer. But losing Singer, Lewis and Neville may be too much for them to approve a trade even if they should. Meanwhile, the Astros would lose two potential players to replace Framber Valdez, who is currently a free agent.

If the Twins are serious about competing, trading Buxton would be a big mistake. Buxton said he wants to remain in Minnesota through the All-Star break, but recent reports suggest he could be willing to waive his no-trade clause if the Twins’ breakdown continues. If president of baseball operations Derek Falvey trades Pablo López and/or Joe Ryan, Buxton can essentially ask to be moved to a team that is serious about winning in the short term. Buxton is already 31 years old, so he has little time to win a World Series before retiring.

Frankly, Twins fans should be outraged if this trade becomes a reality. Fortunately, that won’t happen.