Braves’ perfect trade for Twins’ Byron Buxton

The Atlanta Braves are one of the teams mentioned in the trade talks for Twins’ star Byron Buxton. But there’s a possibility he won’t go anywhere. However, here’s the Braves’ perfect trade offer for Buxton.

The 32-year-old Georgia native might like a trip back home as he navigates deep into his major-league career. He’s a 12-year veteran whose career has been up and down because of injuries.

Last year, he slugged 35 homers, but played only 126 games. It was only the third time in his career that he made it through at least 100 games.

Why do the Braves need OF Byron Buxton?

The Braves’ lineup has faced some disappointing seasons. In particular, Austin Riley has been struggling again. Also, Ronald Acuna Jr. hasn’t been able to stay on the field. He’s currently on the IL, and likely won’t be back until after the All-Star break.

Buxton would provide an immediate power source. He’s among the major-league leaders with 23 homers. In fact, he’s on pace to break the Twins’ single-season home run record. Clearly, he would make him a nice fit in a lineup that includes Matt Olson. Buxton still has top-notch ability, according to ESPN.

“The report on Buxton is still pretty similar to when he went No. 2 in the 2012 draft: elite runner and defender with loud bat speed,” Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan wrote. “The difference is the bat speed in high school turned into regular in-game power by his mid-20s. And now, in his early 30s, he is hitting some of the high-end projections for 30-plus homer potential more than a decade later. Basically, everything you dreamed of with Buxton has come true, with injuries/durability being the only negative.”

And the Twins aren’t going anywhere fast. They are 35-40 and 4.5 games behind the White Sox and Guardians in one of baseball’s weakest divisions.

And Buxton might thrive in a reboot, according to Sports Illustrated.

“The Twins should be looking to flip Buxton,” Patrick McAvouy wrote. “He would bring a significant return back, but has a no-trade clause. The Twins don’t have all the control here, but Buxton has been a very good player for a long time. He should have a shot at a ring elsewhere.”

What would the Braves’ perfect offer be?

It will take some top-end talent, for sure. The Twins could surely be enticed by pitching, so the Braves could offer Owen Murphy. He’s No. 5 on their prospect list, according to MLB.com.

“Upon his return last year, the 6-foot-1 right-hander was pitching at 91-92 mph with his fastball,” MLB.com wrote. “And even at a lower velocity than pre-injury. It missed some bats with high spin and ride in the zone. His cutter-like mid-80s slider can miss bats and he can fold in a slower mid-70s curve effectively. There’s been some feel for a changeup, but he’s yet to find one that truly works for him.

“Athletic on the mound, Murphy’s ability to find the strike zone consistently, immediately upon his return, really stood out. How much his velocity comes back in his first full season (post-Tommy John surgery), at age 22, will determine his ultimate ceiling, but he has all the ingredients to develop into a big-league starter.”

That’s just the starting point. The Braves will have to find a way to get a bat in there. And perhaps John Gil is the answer. The shortstop is considered a 2028 arrival, according to MLB.com.

“A 6-foot-1 right-handed hitter, Gil has some attributes — from his speed to his defensive acumen — that give him an intriguing combination of high floor and exciting tools,” MLB.com wrote. “His nearly top-of-the-scale speed has allowed him to steal 94 bases over the past two seasons in the United States. At the plate, he already seems to understand that his job is to get on base, drawing walks at a good clip and limiting his strikeouts.

“That’s a good foundation to be a solid hitter with routinely competitive at-bats, even if he hasn’t shown much impact yet. Added strength should help him on both sides of the ball. He has a good chance to stick at shortstop, with that 70-grade speed helping with his range.”

With those two prospects, the Braves should have the Twins’ full attention. If it takes a third player, Conor Essenburg could be the answer. He’s still only 19 years old, but he has good bat speed along with strength. He’s a player who could eventually provide pop at the major-league level.

Whatever the Braves decide to do before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, adding power needs to be part of the equation. And there won’t be too many power bats like Buxton available. The biggest question would be whether the Braves are willing to gamble on Buxton staying healthy. His career picture screams that he won’t. But sometimes it’s the gambles that pay the biggest dividends in October.

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