Is Byron Buxton Worth It?
“You could trot 63-year old Julio Franco (that’s his actual age, look it up) out there and tell him not to break a hip & Atlanta would still rank atop the MLB outfield power rankings.”
After it was reported that he turned down a multi-year/$80 million contract extension, the chances of him being dealt by Minnesota rose exponentially; for obvious reasons.
For some time now, namely leading up to last season’s trade deadline, the Braves have been tied to the Twins Center Fielder.
The 27-year old Georgia native is as talented as you will find in Major League Baseball. I mean that; he has all the talent & tools he needs to be the best player in baseball. I’m not exaggerating. I’m not being dramatic. He is the real deal…when he plays.
Since his MLB debut in June of 2015, he’s played more than 90 games twice in his career, twice. Seven seasons, less than 500 games. He’s played less than 65 games four times.
He’s the walking epitome of “injury risk”. Just this past season, he spent six weeks on the IL with a hip strain. Three days later, he was hit by a pitch that fractured his left hand; sending him right back to the IL.
I’m not saying the injuries are his fault, they’re obviously not. But they exist.