Mets pursue another star outfielder, but acquiring Byron Buxton involves significant risk and a hefty prospect price tag. Is it truly worth it?
The New York Mets already made a deal to acquire a big-name outfielder this offseason, landing center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox. It was a long-awaited move for the Mets to acquire a notable outfielder, as it was possibly the most glaring weakness of their roster.
Still, the Mets could use one more outfield addition this winter before spring training gets underway. Robert Jr. will man center field while Juan Soto will be in right, but left field still could use a boost. Bleacher Report’s recent article predicting the landing spots for potentially available players has the solution for New York.
Writer Kerry Miller put together a trade to land the Mets their final everyday outfielder, the Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton. New York would be sending first base prospect Ryan Clifford and right-handed pitching prospect Jonah Tong to the Twins in return.
It’s a hefty haul to send out in return for an injury-prone Buzton, who has only played at least 100 games in three of his 11 years in the majors. In an offseason that’s already been full of aggressive moves for the Mets, sending away two top prospects for Buxton is pushing it too far.
It’s not to say Buxton isn’t a great player, because fans would love to see him play in Queens. He’s coming off his second All-Star season and a Silver Slugger award in 2025. At 31, he hit 35 home runs, drove in 83 runs, stole 24 bases, and recorded an .878 OPS. Buxton’s also a positive player in the outfield, consistently ranking in the top third of the league in fielding run value.
Any team looking ot compete would love to add Buxton’s bat and defense to their roster, but there’s also a question of whether he’s a necessary acquisition. If you’re going to send two of your top 10 prospects away, it should be for a sure-fire fit. Buxton has never played anywhere but in center field. With Robert Jr. already coming to New York to play in center, the Mets may as well pay less of a price for a corner outfielder instead of unloading for another center fielder.
The Mets would love to add another star like Buxton, who received MVP votes last season, but trading for him would be an unnecessary risk the Mets shouldn’t be willing to take. If they want another outfield piece, they can get by with a league-average player to complement Soto and Robert Jr.
The offseason has been great for New York, strengthening their infield, adding pitching help, and filling out their outfield – the front office should quit while they’re ahead.