Angels target superstar outfielder Byron Buxton, sacrificing top prospects. Is this calculated gamble worth the risk for Anaheim's struggling franchise?
Outfield remains a big question mark for the Los Angeles Angels even after trading for Josh Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays last week. With spring training less than a month away, the clock is ticking for the Angels’ front office to solidify their outfield for the 2026 campaign.
A recent Bleacher Report article has a potential solution for their problem. In the article, the Angels landed Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton in a hypothetical trade package. Finishing off the offseason by bringing in a two-time All-Star would satisfy Angels fans after what’s been a fairly disappointing offseason in Anaheim.
To do so, Bleacher Report has the Halos shipping the club’s No. 1 prospect in right-hander Tyler Bremner, 22-year-old righty Caden Dana, and its No. 7 prospect, outfielder Nelson Rada, in the hypothetical trade.
“Selling basically the entire farm for an injury-prone slugger heading into his age-32 season? It's been a while since the Angels played one of their classic hits, but that seems right up their alley,” writer Kerry Miller wrote. “And they certainly need a better center fielder if they're serious about contending this season.”
Though landing the slugger would significantly bolster the outfield in Anaheim, the needle wouldn’t necessarily move much. It’s hard to imagine an Angels team, even with the addition of Buxton, to be competitive in the American League West after finishing in last place in 2025. That begs the question of whether such a move would be worth it for a franchise already scarily thin on prospects.
The Angels selected Bremner with the second overall pick during last season’s draft – it’d be a shame to see him shipped out of town before ever suiting up for even one of their minor league clubs. That’s especially the case if Buxton were to get the injury bug once again, which he has a lengthy history of.
He was great in 2025, winning a Silver Slugger and getting MVP votes with his 35 home runs and .878 OPS while playing good defense in the outfield. Still, his past remains a concern for anybody looking to trade for him this year.
Last year was just the third time in his career that he’s played in at least 100 games in a season, despite being in the majors for 11 seasons. That statistic should be jumping off the table for an Angels team that has a bad history of keeping its stars healthy. Buxton’s been great when he’s been on the field, but it hasn't been all that much.
The last thing the Angels’ franchise needs is an aggressive move from the front office when such a move wasn’t necessary. Owner Arte Moreno is often clouded by bringing in recognizable names to his club, even if they are significantly past their best days. That may not be the case for Buxton, who produced nearly 5.0 WAR last season, but the risk versus reward for such a trade should be enough to immediately end all consideration on the Angels’ side of things.
It’s already been a busy offseason for the Angels, despite it not changing the outlook of the team all that much. As many fans have been suggesting for years, it should be time for the team to accept its fate at the bottom of the league and embrace a full rebuild – not to further push itself into disastrous territory yet again. Adding Buxton would make for some great moments, but it’s not the right move for this Angels team.