Jun 22, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (25) points to the dugout against the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images Brad Rempel
Mike Trout has probably claimed the crown, but prior to that physical decline, perhaps no star in baseball was more associated with regularly being injured than Byron Buxton.
But part of what's made the injuries that have plagued Buxton's career so frustrating is that when the Minnesota Twins' outfielder has been healthy, he's performed like one of the best players in the league. And outside of a brief absence from a concussion, Buxton has been healthy this season and is having one of the best years of his career. It makes you wonder if he could be a fit for the Phillies in advance of the July 31 trade deadline.
Across 65 games, Buxton is hitting .278 with 18 home runs, 49 RBIs and a .907 OPS. He would give the Phillies the type of impact right-handed bat their lineup is lacking currently.
Additionally, Buxton is a former Platinum Glove Award winner, and has four outs above average in center field this year. Granted, he has minus-1 defensive runs saved this season, but 69 in his career. Buxton could give the Phillies, at worst, an average defender at the position that's largely been in flux for the organization since Shane Victorino was traded in July of 2012. (It's also possible he could shift to left field at some point in the future when Justin Crawford comes up.)
According to FanGraphs, Buxton's 3.2 WAR is 13th among all position players. The addition of a healthy version of him to the Phillies would help increase their chances of winning a World Series in 2025.
Of course, trading for Buxton wouldn't be for the risk-averse. The 31-year-old has only played in more than 100 games twice in his career (2017 and 2024). Even in 2024, he only played in 102 games. There's a chance that you trade for Buxton and he's injured in October and unavailable.
Buxton also has a complicated contract situation. Not only does he have a full no-trade clause, but he's owed more than $45 million over the next three seasons. That's a bargain when he's healthy, but a risky investment considering he typically misses quite a bit of time. His deal also includes annual incentives for plate appearances and top-10 MVP finishes.
Plus, the Twins aren't just going to give away Buxton, even if the Phillies — or any other contender — would be willing to take on all of his remaining money. Perhaps trading for Buxton wouldn't require gutting your farm system, but you would still have to give up a future Major Leaguer or two with some upside to get him.
The inclination from most will be to pass on Buxton because he's just too much of a wild card health wise. Under president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies have rewarded players who have shown an ability to post consistently, such as Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Nick Castellanos. Buxton, clearly, doesn't fit that mold.
But there are so few difference makers at the center field position, which the Phillies have found out under Dombrowski. There's not going to be a perfect option that emerges, as evidenced by another possible solution in Luis Robert Jr. Buxton doesn't check the box of being durable, but he's an impact right-handed bat that has traditionally played a really good center field.
Sometimes, baseball executives have to step out of their comfort zone to maximize the potential of their team. Buxton would represent a boom-or-bust option for Dombrowski this summer, one he should at least consider.
