Headlines

  • Rangers Trade Dane Dunning To Braves
  • Kyle Gibson Announces Retirement
  • Yankees Interested In Mitch Keller
  • Pirates Trade Adam Frazier To Royals
  • Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson
  • Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Byron Buxton Replaces Alex Kirilloff On Twins’ ALDS Roster

By Leo Morgenstern | October 11, 2023 at 4:08pm CDT

Major League Baseball announced that Byron Buxton has been approved as a substitute for Alex Kirilloff on the Twins’ roster before this evening’s Game 4 against the Astros. Kirilloff was removed from yesterday’s game with a shoulder injury, manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters (including Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic).

Buxton landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain in early August, and recurring knee trouble has kept him on the shelf ever since. He began a rehab assignment in late September, and following the conclusion of the minor league season, he continued to train with the Twins in hopes of making his return. Ultimately, the star center fielder was left off the ALDS roster, as he had not yet progressed to running the bases by the start of the series.

Balldelli explained that Buxton still isn’t back to full strength, but he is healthy enough to help the team in “smaller spurts” (as relayed by Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune). If nothing else, he should be available to pinch hit, so the Twins must feel the 29-year-old is ready to run the bases if need be. A former Gold and Platinum Glove winner, Buxton has been preparing to return to the outfield after spending the 2023 season as a designated hitter. However, if he isn’t 100% healthy, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be playing the field against the Astros.

Kirilloff missed approximately six weeks in the summer dealing with a shoulder strain but seemed healthy upon his return, slashing .273/.311/.455 with a 107 wRC+ over his final 18 games. Unfortunately, Baldelli says the shoulder strain has come back, and it has been affecting the first baseman’s swing. He has gone 0-for-9 with two walks thus far in the playoffs. It reached a point on Tuesday when the lefty could no longer swing at all, and he was replaced with a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.

Should his shoulder trouble subside, Kirilloff will be eligible to return for the World Series, presuming the Twins advance that far. Donovan Solano, who replaced him at first base last night, will get the start in Game 4 this evening, and Baldelli says he’ll be the primary first baseman going forward. Edouard Julien, who is in tonight’s lineup as the designated hitter, could also play first, potentially freeing up the DH spot for Buxton. Utility man Kyle Farmer can also play first base.

When healthy, Kirilloff was an important bat for the Twins this season, hitting 11 home runs in 88 games and posting career highs in all three triple-slash categories. However, due to his shoulder problems, he’s been a bit of a black hole in the lineup during the playoffs. Solano has been a dependable contact hitter for years, and he posted a career-best .369 on-base percentage this season in his first campaign with Minnesota. It should help to have his bat in the lineup as the Twins face elimination throughout the rest of the ALDS. Buxton is more of a wild card – it’s hard to know what to expect from the former All-Star after so much time off – but at his best, he’s a major power threat and a valuable asset on the bases.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Houston Astros Minnesota Twins Alex Kirilloff Byron Buxton

Offseason Chat Transcript: San Diego Padres
Main
Austin Slater Undergoes Elbow Surgery
View Comments (21)
Post a Comment

21 Comments

  1. just_breathe

    2 years ago

    Kiriloff and Wallner have looked lost. 50% Buxton might be an improvement

    3
    Reply
    • Cora the Destroya

      2 years ago

      Until another injury… didn’t he hit like .220? So 50% would equal .110. Man, this guy is so overrated

      Reply
  2. martras

    2 years ago

    Yeah. The injury was diagnosed as bad defense.

    18
    Reply
    • CityofChampions

      2 years ago

      Caught a little Buckner disease yesterday?

      5
      Reply
    • acoss13

      2 years ago

      Would this be a phantom IL then?

      2
      Reply
  3. ohyeadam

    2 years ago

    Probably the wrist again:(

    Reply
    • zooropean

      2 years ago

      It’s a shoulder injury.

      x.com/DanHayesMLB/status/1712201711316541576?s=20

      Reply
  4. Rsox

    2 years ago

    The “undisclosed injury” is due to a hole in his swing. 0-9 with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks so far this postseason

    7
    Reply
  5. Divebomber81

    2 years ago

    This smells fishy. Seriously?

    1
    Reply
  6. wtfCheeseheadChuck

    2 years ago

    Perhaps an MLB investigation is forthcoming..

    2
    Reply
    • martras

      2 years ago

      Maybe, but MLB specifically approved it.

      1
      Reply
    • Ejemp2006

      2 years ago

      The MLB wants stars on the brightest stages. Buxton could deliver a mini Kirk Gibson type moment. They would approve this move if the Twins provided even a crayon drawn justification. “Ouchy, lots, big hurts for 1B shoulder. No no. We do Buxton for replace? Yes? Okay, good? Thank you!”

      5
      Reply
      • BigChiefWahoo

        2 years ago

        “Kirk Gibson moment” … tell me you’re not serious without telling me you’re not serious

        1
        Reply
  7. joefleury

    2 years ago

    Interesting. If he plays in center it will be even more interesting

    Reply
    • WrongM

      2 years ago

      He’s not starting, but it will be very interesting to see how (if at all) they use him. Houston has zero lefty relievers, so one obvious use of a RH pinch-hitter is not there.

      Using Buxton as a pinch-hitter without getting the platoon advantage also seems to have limited utility since when he’s not going well, he has pretty iffy plate discipline, so there’s a lot of downside in expecting him to extend a rally.

      So maybe there will be a pinch-hitting spot with fewer than two outs where they like the matchup of his power and speed against whoever is pitching? Or maybe they just judge him to be a healthier player for the bench than Kirilloff at this point?

      2
      Reply
      • martras

        2 years ago

        If he can run, defensive replacement for Wallner comes to mind.

        2
        Reply
        • colonel flagg

          2 years ago

          Possibly, but hasn’t he been a DH all season?

          Reply
      • phantomofdb

        2 years ago

        Iffy plate discipline and an opposing pitcher with high chase rate stats – not an ideal place to use him honestly

        1
        Reply
  8. erickohli

    2 years ago

    Buxton got hurt right after hearing the news.

    4
    Reply
    • solaris602

      2 years ago

      Any reporter who makes this announcement is remiss in not speculating who will replace Buxton when he inevitably can’t go. Will be academic when HOU closes them out, I guess.

      2
      Reply
  9. K Kr

    2 years ago

    Gig on the whole season, it felt “Generic,” top to bottom-nicest players, seemed like, no doubt. To Falvey and Levine’s credit, their minor league hitting coaches were/became the best in decades, but they themselves were fundamentally incompetent of understanding the 40 man, the payroll,in addition to the MLB coaching staff.The generic/patchwork/artificial “Feel” was all about those two geniuses. Also time for that Big St Pete talking head to retire. They’ll be on the hook, mind you, also, for the genius signings of Correa and Buxton for nearly $300m into the future years. Hopefully the misers bring in two new Lebowskis, but it’ll take five years, minimum, sad to say, to rebuild. This is organization is a TRAiNWRECK.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Rangers Trade Dane Dunning To Braves

    Kyle Gibson Announces Retirement

    Yankees Interested In Mitch Keller

    Pirates Trade Adam Frazier To Royals

    Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson

    Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September

    Nationals Select Eli Willits With First Pick Of 2025 Amateur Draft

    2025 MLB Draft, First Round Results

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Astros Promote Brice Matthews

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Recent

    Guardians’ Luis Ortiz Placed On Leave Due To “Ongoing League Investigation”

    Front Office Subscriber Chat With Anthony Franco: TODAY At 2:00pm Central

    Angels To Sign No. 2 Overall Pick Tyler Bremner

    Cubs To Sign Spencer Turnbull

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Cleveland Guardians

    Latest On Cardinals’ Bullpen Trade Candidates

    The Opener: Key Series To Watch, Wright, Trout

    Rangers Trade Dane Dunning To Braves

    Draft Signings: Braves, Angels

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Texas Rangers

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version