The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the market for an outfielder this offseason, and could find their answer with longtime trade target Byron Buxton.
ESPN’s Tim Keown proposes the Dodgers should acquire Buxton while the Minnesota Twins attempt their rebuild.
“This falls into the ‘Why? Because they can, that’s why’ category,” Keown wrote. “Enough is never enough for the Dodgers, so this offseason’s installment of making sure they have too much is the acquisition of the best available player at the position they may actually believe they need to upgrade. Move Andy Pages to left, slot Buxton into the top half of the lineup and go for three in a row.“
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The Dodgers have plenty of pieces they could give to the tanking Twins, with their farm system as strong as ever. Another intriguing possibility, though, is the Dodgers sending right fielder Teoscar Hernandez back to the American League in a deal for Buxton.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney reported the Dodgers could look to trade Hernandez this winter in exchange for a better defensive option in center field while moving Andy Pages to right, and a player like Buxton fits the bill.
The 31-year-old center fielder has recorded a positive fielding run value in all of his 11 seasons in MLB, and is more than proficient with the bat.
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Buxton posted a .264/.327/.551 slash line in 2025 and smashed his previous career high in home runs with 35. He earned a Silver Slugger for his performances and made the second All-Star Game of his career, simultaneously recording the highest MVP voting finish of his career.
Perhaps most importantly, though, Buxton remained healthy for most of the season. The outfielder has played more than 100 games just three times throughout his career, and 2025 was a solid step in the right direction to staying healthy and available for the future.
Buxton’s bat would be a huge upgrade for the Dodgers, and his elite baserunning and bat would be a huge boost to LA as they look for their third consecutive World Series title.
Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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