5:12 pm: Minnesota also announced they’ve reinstated Byron Buxton from the injured list. He’s getting the start in center field for this evening’s game against the Brewers. It’s Buxton’s first action in over two months, as the star outfielder has been out since June 22 due to a fracture in his left hand. Catcher Mitch Garver is going on the 10-day IL with lower back tightness in a corresponding move.
It has been a frustrating season for Buxton, who also missed over a month earlier in the year with a right hip strain. When healthy, he’s been nothing short of brilliant. Across 110 plate appearances, the 27-year-old has a .369/.409/.767 slash with ten home runs.
3:27 pm: The Twins announced they’ve selected reliever Ian Gibaut to the big league roster and reinstated Jorge Alcalá from the 10-day injured list. In corresponding moves, Edgar García and Kyle Barraclough were optioned to Triple-A St. Paul. To open space for Gibaut on the 40-man roster, Minnesota transferred righty Luke Farrell from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list.
Gibaut was drafted by the Rays in 2015 and developed into a solid bullpen prospect after posting dominant numbers throughout his early minor league career. He reached the big leagues with Tampa Bay in July 2019 but was traded to the Rangers after a lone appearance. The right-hander spent parts of the next two seasons in Texas, working to a 5.84 ERA over 24 2/3 innings. Gibaut struck hitters out at a roughly league average rate (24.6%) but he issued far too many walks (14.9%) in that brief showing.
Minnesota claimed Gibaut off waivers over the offseason. They passed the 27-year-old through waivers in February and he’s spent the entire season with St. Paul. Gibaut has just a 7.20 ERA over 40 innings of relief with the Saints, but he’s posted passable strikeout (24.2%), walk (10.5%) and ground-ball (49.6%) numbers at the minors’ highest level. Gibaut’s results have been skewed by opponents’ .402 batting average on balls in play, and the Twins will give him a big league opportunity late in the season.
Farrell’s IL transfer is a procedural move. The righty has been on the IL for more than sixty days already, so his eligibility to return is unaffected. The 30-year-old began a rehab assignment with St. Paul over the weekend.
Gibaut may very well be my least favorite Ranger ever. Good luck, Twinkies.
Is that because he didn’t believe you when you commented here as a grown man pretending to be a high school kid that wanted to be a pitcher? If so can you really blame him? That was really creepy! Was that just some desperate cry for attention?
Never fails, don’t trade with the Ray’s especially for pitchers
The Twins got Jake Odorizzi a few years ago, and the guy the Twins gave up is back in their minor league system (signed as a free agent).. That trade with the Rays worked out well.
This notion the Rays never lose a trade is hilariously false. Rays trade most of their pitchers not because they want to but because they need to for salary reasons.
“need” to.
But, yeah.
Remember, each sentence does not need it’s own paragraph. Just a bunch of jocks here dude.
Bro.
Dude.
Great. Buxton back against the Brewers. Wait until next week!
I doubt Buxton can finish the season without another IL stint.
Buyer beware in the off-season. He wants BIG dough. I don’t think 60 games cuts it…
Buxton is not a free agent this winter.
The Minnesota Twins have activated Byron Buxton from the IL and in a corresponding move they’ve placed Byron Buxton back on the IL.
Let’s see if Buxton can get back on the IL before Monday.
1st AB HBP?
he’ll stay healthy for the next month and the mets will sign him for 8/175
Buxton is not a free agent this winter
Question for Twins fans. What do you want the Twins to realistically do with Buxton?
Sign him long term to a ridiculously incentive laden contract. Top him out as the highest paid center fielder if he plays enough and produces enough. But low pay if he doesn’t get on the field. The high end will have to be high enough to get him to agree to the low end.
Sad state of affairs when a bullpen “upgrade” is adding a pitcher with a 7.20 ERA at AAA.
Demotions of Garcia & Barraclough were obvious and overdue.
What the hell bring up some prospect pitchers damn these has been suck. And is not fair to season ticket holders. Ugh
Iron Man Buxton has completed two consecutive games thus far.
Cross out 0,1,and 2 on your wager boards.