Time and again, the Minnesota Twins have wrestled with a familiar dilemma: when you have two frontline starters and can only keep one, who should you build around? In 1989, the club traded away World Series hero Frank Viola and bet its future on a group of younger arms. In 2008, despite his Cy Young pedigree, Johan Santana's departure left a gaping hole in the starting rotation. Now the Twins may be facing a similar question again: who should they keep - Joe Ryan or Pablo López?
Most Twins fans would likely say to keep them both, and with good reason. It is a luxury to have both of these hurlers anchoring the starting rotation, but as we know, money may become an issue, as it always seems to for Minnesota. In an ideal world, both López and Ryan would stay put, and the Twins could build around both of them. As Twins fans, we know that "ideal" set sail a long time ago this season. So, let's look at the situation as objectively as we can: if we can only keep one, is it Ryan or López?
Ryan vs. López
Joe Ryan is in the midst of a 2025 campaign that saw him selected as an All-Star and posting a (so far) career best in ERA, WAR, and strikeouts. He will be eligible for arbitration in 2026, where the Twins would need to raise his salary to $3 million to keep him here. If not extended, Ryan could reach free agency in 2028. It was reported that the Twins had an offer for Ryan at the trade deadline in July, but Minnesota appeared to have backed away from any package sending their ace elsewhere.
Pablo López brings a veteran presence and a workhorse mentality to the Twins rotation. Since joining the Twins in 2023, López has compiled a 31-21 record in 75 starts with a 3.52 ERA. In 2023, he posted a career-high in strikeouts as well as innings pitched. Despite being sidelined with a right shoulder injury in June, López is consistently seen in the clubhouse and is viewed as a leader on the team. López is also set to become a free agent in 2028 and is currently halfway through a four-year, $73.5 million contract extension.
Head-to-Head Summary
Joe Ryan | Pablo López | |
|---|---|---|
2025 Season | All-Star, sub 3.00 ERA, career year. | Solid start, sidelined by injury. |
Financial Outlook | Arbitration-controlled, team-friendly cost. | $73.5 M extension through 2027. |
Health | No major injuries reported. | Shoulder strain could cause durability concerns. |
Team Fit | Successful development within organization. | Veteran anchor in clubhouse, rotation leader. |
Trade Value | Highly coveted, lower cost (currently). | Contract may make trade less likely. |
Who is the right choice?
This is the potential fork in the road: how do you choose between the two? If the Twins decide to bet on youth and flexibility, Joe Ryan may be the future cornerstone of the pitching staff. If stability and experience are what they seek, Pablo López would be the man for the job. The Twins may elect to keep them both, but doing so could have payroll and roster implications down the road. With the Twins debut of Mick Abel set for later today, for example, this decision (or a lack of one) could cause a ripple effect for the near future when it comes to locking up not only pitching talent but names like Brooks Lee, Byron Buxton, or Royce Lewis.