Byron Buxton Has a Blunt Message for Anyone Expecting Him to Leave the Twins

Byron Buxton is tired of the noise. And he’s not being subtle about it.

The Minnesota Twins center fielder heard the trade rumors floating around as the Aug. 3 deadline approaches. His response? Short. Profane. Unambiguous.

“I don’t give a f—,” Buxton told The Athletic’s Dan Hayes. “End of the day, nobody’s in my shoes. Nobody can say anything about what I’m going to do. I know what I’m doing. The only way I’m getting out of here — they’re going to have to come talk to me and tell me something else. Simple as that. … I ain’t said nothing about leaving, nor will I. I’m a Twin.”

That last part matters. Because Buxton has the leverage to make it stick.

The 32-year-old carries a full no-trade clause in his contract, which runs through the 2028 season. So unless he agrees to a deal, he’s not going anywhere. And based on his comments, that’s not happening.

But here’s the thing about trade rumors: they don’t exist in a vacuum. The Twins are 36-40, sitting one and a half games back of the final American League Wild Card spot. They’ve won four straight, including Thursday’s 9-3 win over Texas. They’re not dead yet. But they’re also not exactly a powerhouse.

General manager Jeremy Zoll has a decision to make. Sell high on an injury-prone star who’s been banged up for most of his career? Or hold and hope the team can actually make a run?

Buxton is making that decision easier. For now.

He’s having a monster year. Through 64 games, he’s hitting .270 with 23 home runs, a .330 on-base percentage, .589 slugging, and a .919 OPS. He won a Silver Slugger in 2025. He’s still a Platinum Glove winner from 2017. When healthy, he’s one of the most electric players in baseball.

But “when healthy” has always been the catch. Buxton is 32, and his body has a long history of breaking down at the worst possible times. That’s why some people inside the industry expected the Twins to at least listen on him. A right-handed bat like his, with his defensive range and power, would be one of the most sought-after pieces on the market.

Buxton doesn’t care about any of that.

The two-time All-Star has made it clear he wants to stay in Minnesota. He likes the organization. He likes the city. He likes being a Twin. And with that no-trade clause, he has the final say.

Still, the Twins have only made the playoffs once in the last five seasons. If they fall out of contention by late July, the calculus could change. But right now, Buxton is telling anyone who’ll listen that he’s not leaving. And he’s not asking for permission to stay.

He’s already home.