The Minnesota Twins were expected to compete for an American League pennant in 2021. Instead, they currently sit with a record of 31-41 and well out of the current playoff picture.

One of the lone bright spots was and has been Byron Buxton. The Twins centerfielder was playing at an MVP level back in April before the injuries started to pile up yet again this year. So far just this season alone, Buxton has been sidelined with injuries to his hip, knee, hamstring and most recently on Monday, a broken hand. He has the potential to be one of the most electrifying players in all of MLB and for one reason or another, just can't stay healthy.

It's put the Twins in quite the predicament. Yet, with Buxton set to hit free agency after the 2022 season, the right move for Minnesota is to give their sensational centerfielder an extension.

Minnesota sports have had more than their fair share of heartbreak in sports throughout the years. For the Twins, that's included a current losing streak of 18 straight postseason games. Think about how absurd that is. They haven't won a single playoff game, not series, game, in 18 straight tries dating back all the way to the 2004 Division Series against the New York Yankees.

The one transaction that every fan will bring up as part of the ongoing agony is when the Twins released David Ortiz after the 2002 season. He would go on to sign with the Boston Red Sox and the rest is history.

Is this living in the past a step too far by Twins fans? Perhaps, but who can blame them? Now, bring the Byron Buxton situation into the fold.

Buxton has been hurt year after year after year for Minnesota. Yet when he's healthy and on the field, the Twins are 100-52 with Buxton in the lineup over the last three years. But the problem is he isn't on the field that much.

Early on in his career, Buxton would fly around center field slamming into the wall to make highlight reel catches while laying his body on the line at any opportunity that warranted it. The Twins were able to reel that in to an extent, while making sure their star centerfielder kept his edge and aggressive style of play. Now, his injuries have been that of just bad luck.

On Monday, two games after returning from a hip injury that had him on the shelf, Buxton was hit on the left hand in the 4th inning against the Cincinnati Reds. The diagnosis: a broken hand that has landed Buxton right back on the IL.

The Twins and Minnesota fans know the drill.

Buxton is set to hit free agency after the 2022 season. When he's healthy, he's as dynamic a player as the game has to offer and worth every penny of whatever he will get for his next contract. Twins fans know if the team let's him walk or trades him, the injuries will magically subside and not reappear and he will go on to have a hall-of-fame type career. It's the way of the world for Twins fans.

The past instances, letting Ortiz walk and the playoff drought certainly can't factor into the Twins' dilemma with Buxton. But it shouldn't be a dilemma at all.

It's worth the risk and the roll of the dice for Minnesota to give Buxton an extension and to overpay if they have to. However, the injuries certainly won't help as a bargaining chip and could lower the dollar amount Buxton sees on his next offer. But the Twins have no choice, even with the injuries it's more of a risk to let Buxton walk or to give up on him than it is to fork over the money and hope that he can stay moderately healthy and away from the IL in the future.

Minnesota might not be able to turn things around in time this year. They have other injuries on the roster and the starting pitching staff has been less than stellar. As a result, they may end up selling at the deadline.

That could mean pieces like Nelson Cruz, Kenta Maeda, maybe a star like Jose Berrios end up on the move. But the Twins need to hang on to Byron Buxton, work out an extension in the offseason and cross their fingers that the injury bug stops biting him. He's way too good and too young to let go of despite all the time on the shelf. Invest in your star now or forever regret it, Minnesota.