Minnesota Twins re-sign Byron Buxton to monster contract

The small ball Minnesota Twins broke open the piggy bank to for a Byron Buxton contract that keeps him as a centerpiece of its franchise. 

Here’s something you don’t hear often: The Minnesota Twins are winners in the winter.

The biggest question on the minds of Twins fans this offseason was whether or not Byron Buxton would be given the extension that he deserves. Minnesota ended up holding onto Buxton at the trade deadline, despite rumors he’d be moved, which gave hope to the idea that a deal might get worked out now.

And so it has.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Twins are backing the Brink’s truck up to re-sign Buxton to a nine-figure deal.

This is a massive deal, beyond the obvious financial aspect.

Byron Buxton contract: Twins give monster extension to star outfielder

The Twins simply do not fork over the kind of money they did for Buxton. Historically the team has proudly touted a small payroll despite playing in one of the larger metropolises in the country. Minneapolis isn’t a Big Market, but the Twins are big enough that they should be spending to try and compete with the likes of the Yankees and Astros — two teams that have routinely dispatched them in the postseason. Instead of spending to beat AL titans, the Twins ran on homegrown talent that was traded away once it became clear it would reach a price point the front office was uncomfortable with.

Buxton’s deal feels like a change in that philosophy.

Josh Donaldson broke the mold and paved the way for a new Twins front office to feel comfortable spending more than it usually has in the past. Donaldson signed a $92 million deal an offseason ago to make him a cornerstone in the Twins infield. Previously the Twins set a franchise record by giving Ervin Santana a $55 million, four-year deal in free agency.

Buxton wasn’t a free agent addition, but he will get a massive extension that keeps perhaps the best homegrown star of this generation of Twins players in Minnesota for the foreseeable future. When he’s healthy — which has been a major hangup over the past few seasons — Buxton might be the best outfielder in baseball.

His value to the Twins far exceeded what he was being paid, but that’s officially been rectified and Minnesota has its face of the franchise firmly in place.