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Byron Buxton Won't Be Coming to Phillies at Trade Deadline
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- Byron Buxton Won't Be Coming to Phillies at Trade Deadline
Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
For the Philadelphia Phillies fans who were hoping All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton would be donning the red pinstripes come the July 31 trade deadline, there's some bad news. Buxton isn't going anywhere.
The Twins center fielder told The Minnesota Star Tribune's Phil Miller that he will not be waiving his no-trade clause despite his name popping up in rumors.
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"I've got a no-trade clause — I'm a Minnesota Twin for the rest of my life," Buxton said. "That's the best feeling in the world, knowing when I walk into the clubhouse every day, it's going to say Twins . I love Minnesota — that's home."
Buxton appeared in his second All-Star game on Tuesday after hitting .289/.351/.574 in the first-half of the season, with 21 home runs, a 146 OPS+ and 4.2 bWAR.
The biggest thing for Buxton, though, is that he's healthy for the first time in years. He's only played over 100 games twice in his 11-year career due to multiple injuries. He's 22 games away from it happening a third time.
"This past offseason, I had a lot of mental clarity, a chance to get back to being myself. It surprised me," Buxton explained. "Not having to worry about rehab, about whether you'll be ready for spring training, to just have that freedom every morning of knowing you're OK; it was so much of a mental break. It showed me how much [a long history of injury was] wearing on me, how important it was to get back to playing the game I love the way I love to."
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With the Twins 47-49, 11.5 games out of first in the AL Central and Buxton producing on the field, trade rumors have swirled around him. He's under contract through the 2028 season after signing a seven-year, $100 million deal in December 2021.
Buxton would've been the perfect right-handed bat the Phillies desperately need as they make their playoff push. He would've balanced a left-handed heavy lineup and formed a potent top four with Trea Turner , Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper .
With Buxton officially off the board and staying in Minnesota, the Phillies will have to look elsewhere to upgrade their outfield offense.
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