As the MLB trade deadline nears, the Twins remain under the .500 mark, drawing interest from other teams in their players. Among those targeted, however, Joe Ryan has emerged as a surprising name reportedly on the radar, including for teams like the Boston Red Sox, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. While the allure of trading Ryan exists, moving him now would represent a major error for the Minnesota Twins.
Joe Ryan’s Outstanding Performance Anchors Twins’ Rotation
Joe Ryan has been a standout this season, securing his place in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game and leading the Twins’ pitching staff with a 2.76 ERA and an elite 0.89 WHIP—ranking third-best in all of baseball. With fellow starter Pablo López sidelined and the rest of the rotation struggling, Ryan has stepped up as the team’s staff ace, delivering the most impressive stretch of his career during a turbulent season. In a year marked by uncertainty and underperformance, Ryan has provided the Twins with a rare source of stability and hope.
Cost Control and Future Upside Make Ryan Irreplaceable
Beyond his current success, Ryan remains under team control through the 2027 season while entering his first arbitration year. His projected salary for 2025 is around $8 million, rising to approximately $15 million in 2027, making him an affordable option for a pitcher of his caliber. Ryan’s combination of youth, contract value, and consistent improvement positions him as a foundational piece—not a trade asset. These are precisely the qualities that franchises should build around rather than sacrifice for uncertain returns.
Trading Ryan Risks Losing Proven Talent for Uncertain Prospects
The key dilemma confronting the Twins is what exactly they would receive in exchange if they traded Ryan. Speculation includes top prospects, possibly a mix of pitchers and hitters. However, the reality of prospect acquisition is that only a few reach impact levels, often leaving teams to rebuild around unknowns while losing a proven frontline starter. Ryan has already demonstrated his capability to excel in Minnesota, showing both high performance and a strong fit within the organization’s culture—elements rarely replicated through trade returns.
Historical Context Underscores Risks of Trading Homegrown Aces
The Twins have long struggled to develop homegrown starting pitchers, with only Johan Santana, José Berríos, and Joe Ryan reaching All-Star status over the last two decades. Of these, Ryan is trending toward becoming the best, thanks to his embrace of analytics, relentless work ethic, and ongoing evolution as a pitcher. These factors indicate significant upside ahead, making a trade even more questionable. The franchise’s recent history with similar moves has often resulted in disappointing returns, underscoring the danger of parting with such talent prematurely.
Payroll Concerns Should Not Drive Premature Trades
Some argue financial constraints make trading Ryan necessary, but with the Twins currently undergoing an ownership transition, future payroll flexibility remains uncertain. The front office’s ability to make definitive long-term decisions is limited while the team is in flux. Trading a cornerstone player based on speculative financial fears is short-sighted and risks undermining the foundation of the roster before a new ownership group assumes control. There is a strong possibility that the incoming owners will prioritize retaining key players like Ryan and López to build sustained success.
Past Trades Illustrate the High Cost of Selling Established Talent
Previous trades of homegrown starters offer cautionary tales. When the Twins traded José Berríos, they received highly regarded prospects Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson, yet neither has matched Berríos’ impact. Similarly, the Johan Santana trade brought in top Mets prospects, including Carlos Gómez, but ultimately failed to replace Santana’s ace contributions. These examples highlight the gamble involved in exchanging proven talent for future potentials, as prospects seldom live up to their promise or adequately compensate for the loss.
Retaining Ryan Balances Present Competitiveness and Future Growth
Joe Ryan remains a rare asset who provides both immediate value and long-term potential, allowing the Twins to continue retooling without sacrificing core talent. The organization can explore trading other players, such as bullpen arms or short-term rentals, to address roster needs. Ryan offers a dependable presence every five days, giving Minnesota a genuine chance to compete now while building toward a stronger future, a combination that few pitchers can match.
Moving Ryan Risks Repeating Decades of Organizational Setbacks
The Twins endured a prolonged period of underperformance after dismantling their core following earlier eras of success. Trading Ryan, the best homegrown frontline starter developed in over 20 years, would likely mark the beginning of a similar decline. Although the current team struggles, trading away a foundational figure now would prematurely signal surrender on both this season and the years to come, undermining hopes for long-term competitiveness in Minnesota’s market.