Out since Aug. 2 with a left shoulder subluxation, center fielder Byron Buxton still isn’t ready to rejoin the Twins’ roster, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports (subscription required). Buxton is coming back to the Twins, but only because his rehab assignment hit a snag. He has been dealing with discomfort in his shoulder this week, though an MRI didn’t reveal any new inflammation, per Hayes. “We’re still optimistic that he’s still going to help this team at some point before the season’s end,” said general manager Thad Levine, who added he’s “very confident” Buxton will slot back into the Twins’ lineup this year. While Buxton has been on the IL three times in 2019, he has nonetheless managed 2.8 fWAR in 295 plate appearances, thereby helping Minnesota to a three-game lead in the American League Central.
- Red Sox southpaw David Price “believes” he’ll come off the IL to rejoin this weekend in Anaheim, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com writes. A TFCC cyst in Price’s left wrist has kept him from pitching in the majors since Aug. 4, which was a particularly forgettable start for the 34-year-old. Price gave up seven earned in 2 2/3 innings against the Yankees then, raising his 2019 ERA from 3.86 to 4.36 in one fell swoop. The hurler’s other numbers are much better, however, as he owns a 3.64 FIP with 10.77 K/9 and 2.65 BB/9 across 105 1/3 innings.
- Athletics center fielder Ramon Laureano has been on the shelf since July 29 with a shin injury, though it’s possible he’ll return without embarking on a rehab assignment, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Laureano has been racking up at-bats at the A’s minor league complex, and he could rejoin the team this weekend or during an upcoming homestand that starts next Tuesday, Slusser suggests. Oakland has done well without Laureano, evidenced by the fact that it holds the AL’s second wild-card spot, but he has been one of the drivers of its success this season. The 25-year-old has slashed .284/.334/.518 with 21 homers, 12 steals and 3.0 fWAR through 419 trips to the plate.
- The Rangers placed outfielder Hunter Pence on the IL on Tuesday (retroactive to Aug. 24) with a lower back strain, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News tweets. The club recalled infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. It’s the second IL placement of the season for Pence, who missed a few weeks earlier in the summer on account of a groin strain. Injuries aside, this season has been a resounding success for the 36-year-old Pence, who earned his fourth All-Star appearance last month. After back-to-back woeful campaigns with the Giants, Pence took a minor league contract with the Rangers in the offseason and has since logged a stout .297/.358/.552 line and smacked 18 home runs in 316 plate appearances.
Buxton sure does love the comfy confines of the Injured List.
Might not be such a bad thing for the Twins if he’s healthy for October. They’re 3.5 games up and Buxton’s arb salary is getting further suppressed.
he will be 26 next year. He only has 388 games played so the equivilant of 3 seasons, an his OPS is. 700 , he has 38 home runs an his career OBP is below 300.
he is great in the field no doubt, but all those numbers I just mentioned will supress his arbitration lolol. I guess the injuries don’t help. But if he loses some of his D from injuries he is a AAA player basically
Buxton, like Dansby Swansom, is simply congratulated and revered when he preforms above league average since people expected both to be so good. They have both been average, and ill give them the credit they are currently given when they truely become the superstars they are made out to be currently.
You can’t look over the course of his career. He’s only starting to break out. Project this years numbers over a full year and he’d be the top center fielder not named Trout. Not to mention his numbers came from the nine hole.
He’s been way different at the plate this year. Much more composed and relaxed.
If he can put things together to end the season strong, my guess is he’ll head to extension talks and not arbitration talks.
I don’t know too many AAA players with a career WAR of 10 or a season over 5. Also, his bat has been worth more than his glove this year. Some players break out later than others, but he is definitely MUCH better than AAA players lmao
Funny last month there were so many Twins fans on here claiming how great Buxton is. The guy’s career up to this point makes Stanton look like an Ironman.
funny how people praised him in his 2017 career year, which was just mediocre enough to make a year like 2019 (during which only his double rate has impressed) look like another breakout. overrated, as he always had been.
He made some adjustments in the offseason. If he had been healthy all year he very likely would have compiled a very good stat line. He looks like a completely different hitter and mich better overall player this year. His problem has been injuries. Wether it be from his “all out” style of defensive play or the fluke injuries, he hasn’t been able to stay on the field. I’ll give him credit, he put in the work last winter to bulk up and make some changes. The Twins have stated that they are looking at getting him to make some defensive adjustments to keep him from getting hurt. I will say he is a great player to watch when he’s able to be on he field.
He’s basically Billy Hamilton with a bat.
One could dwell on the idea of what Buxton would be today if he hadn’t had all these injuries. But since that is hindsight, not going to do that. But if you put him on the same development schedule as someone like Max Kepler, Buxton should be breaking out completely next year or 2 years at the most.. Since he still has 3 year of arbitration left, I can see the Twins staying with arb next year and if he stays healthy and does break out, trying to sign him long term in 2 years. They just need to figure out how to keep him healthy.
Buxton will be wearing a different uniform in 2020.
Well of course he will be. They don’t make players use the same uniforms from the previous year. The Twins most certainly will issue him some clean ones.
Yeah, these comments are for the wrong post.