The Minnesota Twins made waves at the 2025 trade deadline, dealing away nearly every player with significant value-Carlos Correa, Louis Varland, and Willi Castro among them. But through all the roster reshuffling, one name stayed put: Byron Buxton. And that, apparently, didn’t stop the rumor mill from churning.
Buxton, speaking candidly in a recent interview, made it clear he's not a fan of having his name tossed around in trade chatter.
“If you know me and you know who I am, I don’t like my name being blasted around all the time,” he said. “To have your name blasted and you know where we want to be, you know what we’re trying to work toward, it’s different.”
That’s a player speaking from both pride and purpose. Buxton isn’t just a guy trying to hang onto a roster spot-he’s a cornerstone who wants to be part of something bigger in Minnesota. And he believes the team could’ve done more to shut down the noise.
“All it takes is for somebody at the top to go to the media - ‘We’re not trading you,’” Buxton said. “Trade rumors stop.”
According to team sources, the Twins did make efforts behind the scenes to reassure Buxton about the franchise’s direction. But in the world of pro sports-especially one as rumor-hungry as baseball-silence often fuels speculation.
And let’s be honest: Buxton has earned the right to expect a little clarity.
He’s got three years left on the seven-year, $100 million extension he signed back in 2022. That deal was a show of faith from the Twins, especially considering Buxton's well-documented injury history. But in 2025, he reminded everyone exactly why that investment was made.
An All-Star and a Home Run Derby participant in front of his home crowd in Georgia, Buxton put together one of the best seasons of his career. He played in 126 games-his second-highest total-and mashed 35 home runs. Combine that with his elite defense in center field, and you’ve got a player who doesn’t just contribute-he elevates the team on both sides of the ball.
This isn’t a guy you trade unless you’re hitting the reset button hard. And even then, you think twice.
Still, the Twins’ silence hasn’t only affected Buxton. Starting pitchers Joe Ryan and Pablo López have also surfaced in offseason trade rumors. And just like with Buxton, the team hasn’t made any public declarations about their status.
That’s left fans and analysts alike wondering: are Ryan and López truly on the block, or is this another case of internal conversations not making it to the public sphere?
If the Buxton situation is any indication, it might be the latter. The Twins may be doing more behind closed doors than they’re letting on. But in a league where perception often becomes reality, silence can sometimes speak louder than words.
For now, Buxton remains in Minnesota-and he wants to stay. After a bounce-back year that reestablished his value and reminded everyone of his superstar ceiling, he’s made his stance clear. He’s not just looking for reassurance; he’s looking for a long-term future in the place he still calls home.
And if the Twins are serious about building around their most dynamic talent, it might be time to say that out loud.