Could the Los Angeles Dodgers go big game hunting via the trade market this offseason?
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According to Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation, one veteran outfielder makes considerable sense as an upgrade.
Byron Buxton, 31, is currently coming off the best year of his career. For the lowly Twins, the Georgia native slugged 35 homers to go along with 83 runs batted in. He hit .264, stole 24 bases, made the All-Star team, and registered a .878 OPS.
Buxton has been the face of Minnesota’s franchise dating back to when he broke into the league in 2015 as a 21-year-old. He was taken No. 2 overall in the 2012 MLB Draft, one spot behind Carlos Correa and two spots ahead of Kevin Gausman.
It’s no secret the Dodgers want to upgrade their outfield. Michael Conforto certainly did not pan out in left field. Teoscar Hernandez struggled defensively all year long, and there’s a world where he is moved to left field to better mitigate his challenges as a fielder.
Kyle Tucker has long been associated with the Dodgers as a possible free agent target. The same has been said for Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians. Tucker will likely command a megadeal — and the thought of bringing another contract on the books for 10-plus years might not be ideal for the franchise moving forward.
Kwan fits perfectly as a player with terrific defensive capabilities and elite bat-to-ball skills. Having said that, Cleveland is notoriously difficult to negotiate with, and the Dodgers may not want to part with some of their better prospects.
Enter Buxton — someone that is very well respected within the Twins organization. He’s a high-level athlete even into his 30s. This is illustrated by the fact that he ranks in the 100th percentile in sprint speed. Los Angeles could stand to get more athletic across the board with an older roster.
Buxton also fits as a centerfielder, and that would enable Andy Pages to kick to his more natural spot in right field. A possible acquisition of Buxton would make the Dodgers far better defensively in the outfield, and also a more athletic team. Tommy Edman could then move to second base permanently where he’s more suited to perform as well.
The hitting profile is also something that should excite Dodgers fans. This past year, Buxton ranked above the 88th percentile in xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard-hit percentage, bat speed, batting run value, and baserunning run value. He’s also an above-average performer in range (81th percentile) and arm strength (77th percentile).
The main element here worth noting is the fact that Buxton has a no-trade clause. He’s reportedly loved his time in Minnesota to the point that it’s unknown as to whether he’d ever want to leave.
Buxton is under contract until 2028 on a very favorable deal which initially was a seven-year agreement worth $100 million.
There’s world where Buxton, hailing from a small town, might not want to go and play for the star-studded Dodgers. On the other hand, there’s also a scenario where he could be further reenergized performing for the golden standard in the sport with a real shot at winning a World Series.
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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