Byron Buxton: A Name on the Mets’ Radar?
ATLANTA – If the Mets have their sights set on Byron Buxton, he might not be so easy to acquire.
When thinking about potential trades, Buxton’s name stands out among position players. The Mets have struggled to get consistent performance from their center field spot, with players like Tyrone Taylor and currently Jeff McNeill—who is primarily an infielder—failing to provide adequate production. Overall, the team has struggled with a .614 OPS from center field.
Clearly, there’s room for improvement, and Buxton would certainly enhance their lineup.
The gifted All-Star recently spoke to the media before taking part in the Home Run Derby. This season, he has dominated pitchers with impressive stats: a .289 batting average, .351 on-base percentage, and .574 slugging, alongside 21 home runs in just the first half of the season.
Interestingly, it’s a bit ironic. Players who seem to face the most injuries often rank highly in sprint speed—Buxton being a prime example. Currently, the Twins are 11.5 games behind the AL Central leader and four games shy of the wild card, putting them in a position where they might consider trading one of their most valuable assets.
Buxton’s contract complicates things a bit; he’s set to earn around $45 million from 2026 to 2028. After dealing with numerous injuries—including issues with his wrist, thumb, and knees—it begs the question: should the Twins trade him if he becomes healthy and desirable by the trade deadline?
That’s if he even wants to be traded, which he stated he wouldn’t. Buxton confirmed he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause, making things trickier.
“I’m going to be a Minnesota Twin for the rest of my life,” Buxton declared. It’s quite touching, really. For him, there’s something special about belonging to a single organization. He has been with the Twins since being drafted second overall in 2012 and signed a lucrative seven-year, $100 million extension in December 2021.
Despite not being from Minnesota, he’s ended up a fan favorite, expressing real pride in who he is and where he’s been.
The Mets might want to explore other options if they’re seeking an upgrade in center field. Names like Jarren Duran from the Red Sox come to mind, although it’s uncertain if Boston would part ways with him while vying for a playoff spot.
There’s also Cedric Mullins, who had a respectable .713 OPS, or perhaps a reunion with Harrison Bader (.767 OPS). Who knows—Taylor’s performance might improve, or Siri might return in the second half of the season.
