Twins throw wrench in Phillies plan to trade for Byron Buxton

Byron Buxton may stay with the Minnesota Twins after all and not be traded to a team like the Philadelphia Phillies as the trade deadline approaches.

While the Philadelphia Phillies may have a ton of interest in trading for Byron Buxton, the star outfielder might be sticking with the Minnesota Twins after all.

According to Jon Heyman of the MLB Network, Minnesota could be interested in securing a long-term extension on their often-injured outfielder. Minnesota drafted Buxton No. 2 overall out of high school in 2012. Injuries have limited Buxton to only 27 games this season. He has only played in more than 100 regular-season games during a season once. Buxton will be a free agent in 2023.

If the Twins are pushing towards extending Buxton, there is not much Philadelphia can do about it.

Minnesota Twins throw wrench in Philadelphia Phillies’ Byron Buxton plans

Entering the second half of the 2021 MLB season, the Twins are 11 games below .500 at 39-50 on the year and 14.5 games back of the division-leading Chicago White Sox in the AL Central standings. Minnesota was a postseason team a year ago, but the Twins have massively underperformed this season. Philadelphia is within striking distance of the New York Mets.

Every team in the NL East standings is within 8.5 games of the division-leading Mets. The Atlanta Braves have made a few moves thus far to suggest they will be buyers at the trade deadline. Keep in mind that Philadelphia has the longest active postseason drought in the NL. The Phillies have not made the postseason in a decade. Dealing for Buxton would help, but he may not be available.

Though the Phillies may want him, Minnesota possibly extending Buxton changes everything here.