Many Twins fans thought they'd already seen righty starting pitcher Joe Ryan in a Twins uniform for the last time, as trade rumors regarding the ace had been rampant since the beginning of the offseason. However, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported earlier in the month that Minnesota plans to keep Ryan, Pablo López and Byron Buxton, and build around them for 2026. The Twins' recent signing of first baseman Josh Bell proves Rosenthal's report is accurate, as Minnesota wouldn't have signed a first baseman to a one-year deal if it were still in rebuild mode.
To Twins' fans' pleasure, Ken Rosenthal shuts down annoying Joe Ryan trade rumors
Another recent Rosenthal report backs up his previous report that Ryan will stay with the Twins organization for next season.
Teams continue to ask the Minnesota Twins about right-hander Joe Ryan, who is under club control for two more seasons. The Twins, though, continue to say they are not shopping Ryan, and one person briefed on their talks said they haven’t even discussed him with other clubs since before the GM meetings in early November.
It makes sense why teams have reached out to the Twins regarding Ryan, considering Minnesota traded nearly 40% of its MLB roster last July to shed payroll and bolster its farm system. The Twins would be able to continue shedding payroll by trading Ryan and would receive some very good young talent in return.
However, with a wide-open American League Central Division, trading Ryan would be a massive mistake for Minnesota. While the last two seasons have been a disaster for the Twins, they have the talent to return to the postseason, especially in their division. If Ryan and López stay healthy, the bullpen comes back together and the young hitters perform to their potential, Minnesota could easily make the playoffs.
That's a lot of ifs, but it's worth seeing what the team can do. If they are in a bad spot again as next summer's trade deadline approaches, the Twins can always trade their stars then. But for now, fans deserve to see if this team can reach the ultimate goal.