Why the Twins and Mets Make Sense in a Joe Ryan Blockbuster Trade

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

 

As the Minnesota Twins tore down their roster at the trade deadline, rumors about Joe Ryan’s future were flying fast. Amidst trading away ten players from their major league roster, the Twins’ decision to hold on to their All-Star right-hander was one of the biggest surprises of the summer. At one point, a false report even circulated on social media claiming that Ryan had been traded to the Boston Red Sox, briefly sending Twins Territory into a frenzy.

Ryan was the most notable name that the team held onto during the fire sale. His contract control and consistent performance made him valuable both on the mound and in trade talks. Given his talent and affordable salary, it should be expected that Ryan will once again be pursued by numerous teams this winter.

Ryan’s Breakout 2025 Season
Ryan rewarded Minnesota’s faith in him with the best season of his career in 2025. The 29-year-old righty earned his first All-Star selection while posting a 3.42 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in 171 innings. His command and ability to miss bats were among the best in the American League, and his reliability helped stabilize an otherwise patchwork Twins rotation.

With MLB Trade Rumors projecting his 2026 arbitration salary at $5.8 million, Ryan remains an incredible value given his production. The Twins also have team control through the 2027 season, meaning any acquiring team would be landing a front-line starter for multiple years at a below-market rate. That kind of control makes Ryan an especially appealing trade chip for a club looking to restock its farm system while staying competitive in the long term.

The Mets Have the Assets and Motivation
Danny Abriano of SNY recently identified Ryan as a potential target for the New York Mets this offseason, noting that “the Twins can definitely get a haul for Ryan this offseason, and it would behoove them to cash in as they embark on some form of a rebuild.” The Mets, who finished the 2025 season short of expectations, are once again positioned to be aggressive this winter.

Ryan’s relatively low salary and remaining years of control make him a perfect fit for a club with New York’s financial flexibility. Ryan’s projected 2026 salary is a negligible amount for a team operating in the upper echelon of payrolls.

Ryan himself seems unfazed by the idea of being traded. Speaking at the All-Star Game in Atlanta, he said, “It’s fun for me. July is awesome. I think everyone in the clubhouse gets excited just seeing where guys are going to go around the league. You don’t know, and I think that’s exciting — and being someone that could get traded, it would be exciting. I mean, I do love Minnesota, and I love where I’m at, so it would be sad — definitely hard to go. But at the end of the day, it’s never up to me.”

If the Twins do decide to move him, the Mets appear to be one of the few teams that could offer the type of prospect package Minnesota would require. According to midseason farm rankings, New York’s system currently ranks seventh in baseball, with multiple blue-chip players nearing the majors.

Potential Mets Trade Targets
Here is a look at the top five prospects in the Mets organization according to MLB Pipeline. Like the Jhoan Duran trade, it will likely take multiple top-100 caliber prospects to acquire Ryan. New York currently has four prospects that rank in MLB’s top-50. 

RHP Nolan McLean (MLB #11): A dynamic two-way player in college, McLean has since focused on pitching and quickly climbed through the Mets’ system. His fastball touches the upper 90s, and his slider projects as a true out pitch. Last season, he made his MLB debut and posted a 2.06 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 in 48 innings. He profiles as a potential playoff-caliber starter if his command continues to improve.

OF Carson Benge (MLB #21): A left-handed hitter with advanced plate discipline, Benge has impressed scouts with his ability to drive the ball to all fields. In 2025, he moved from High-A to Triple-A while posting a .281/.385/.472 (.857) slash line. His combination of on-base ability and athleticism gives him the ceiling of a high-end everyday corner outfielder.

INF Jett Williams (MLB #30): Known for his elite bat-to-ball skills and defensive versatility, Williams has already played shortstop, second base, and center field in the minors. His speed and contact approach could make him a top-of-the-order spark plug at the big-league level. He split time between Double- and Triple-A last season and hit .261/.363/.465 (.828) with 34 steals. 

RHP Jonah Tong (MLB #46): One of the biggest risers in the Mets’ system, Tong’s strikeout numbers have been electric thanks to a fastball-slider combo that misses bats at a high rate. He dominated the upper minors last season with a 1.43 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 113 2/3 innings. He’s still refining his third pitch, but could contribute to a major league rotation in the near future.

RHP Brandon Sproat: Though not currently on the top 100 list, Sproat has drawn praise for his durability and competitive edge. Last season, he made 26 appearances at Triple-A and posted a 4.24 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP. His four-pitch mix gives him mid-rotation upside, and his college pedigree out of Florida suggests he’s close to MLB readiness.

The Twins have a valuable trade chip in Ryan, and the Mets have the farm system depth to make a deal happen. Minnesota may not be eager to part with its All-Star right-hander, but the opportunity to restock its organization with multiple top prospects could prove too enticing to ignore. With both teams aiming to reshape their futures this offseason, a Ryan trade between the Twins and Mets might be one of the most logical moves of the winter.

Should the Twins engage the Mets in trade talks for Ryan? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[AceWrigley]

I'll take all five.

[Cory Engelhardt]

If they start with Francisco Alvarez and then say 2 prospects that you listed, I’d be ok listening 

[Wedman13]

4 of 5 or no dice.

[SteveLV]

Maybe send Jeffers as well if they send Alvarez as part of a huge package.  If they cough up all their top young pitchers too, this might be something the Twins should look at.  McLeans' stuff looked nasty at the end of the year.

[tony&rodney]

Everyone is going to have ideas. Some people will have ideas that might benefit their second favorite team. The Mets don't seem too likely to give up all of McLean, Benge, and Tong or their power hitting young catcher in a trade for Joe Ryan and the Twins should not necessarily be looking for more pitching prospects. So it doesn't look like the Mets are a good match to me. I'm not at all interested in Jet Williams either. 

As has been stated numerous times elsewhere, the Twins need to be smart about any transaction involving Joe Ryan. Position players are their primary need and thus it is on to the next idea now. 28 clubs to go.

[NYCTK]

Anyone asking for McLean or Alvarez is being ridiculous. They aren't being traded for someone that isn't a bona fide ace.

I don't think Benge is necessarily untouchable, but Stearns is a big system guy and I don't think he trades him either, but it's a fair ask. 

It is entirely reasonable that Mets would offer: Jett, Mauricio/Vientos, Sproat/Tong, and then further prospects like Suero, Reimer or Clifford. That's still a big haul, but understandable if the Twins say it's not enough. 

One further thing to consider is that it looks like Skubal might also be on the market. And I can imagine the Mets being one of the top bidders for him first. Ryan being an after thought. 

 

[olerud]

Any deal would have to have either McLean or tong or both in it or no deal!!!!!!!!

[ziggy]

Any one of the three pitchers plus a couple of lower level high upside minor leaguers is about all they could get for Ryan.

I think Falvey will trade Ryan for the left handed batting outfielder.

[Old Twins Hat]

A Sprout with a Tong and unlimited salad bar.

Or no deal.

[Fatbat]

I wasn’t aware that our farm system has to be restocked. However, Id take 3 of those pitchers and JWilliams or some kind of blockbuster trade. We might as well just burn it all down and start over….

[Historyking88]

Would like to see you conduct this same exercise more particularly concerning Boston and Philadelphia. Curious to think if either would give up Tolle or Painter in a trade for Ryan. 

[old nurse]

When money is not the issue why would the Mets give up good prospects for talent?  They will gladly trade the suspects 

[Doctor Gast]

Our biggest need that should have been accomplished at the deadline was promising MLB-ready catchers. That wasn't done although a lot of proven players flew out of the organization. If it wasn't done then, I don't see it happening now. We need to restock our farm system???? It's jammed packed with unproven, undeveloped, AAAA, redundant prospects. Which will cause a 40-man roster crunch that'll end up losing good prospects via Rule 5 Draft, even without trading Ryan. If NYM can come up with such catchers, that is the starting point for negociations not before.

[Jeff K]

Trading Ryan requires major league ready players.  Positions of need at catcher, and anywhere on the infield.

[LeatherAntenna]

22 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

Trading Ryan requires major league ready players.  Positions of need at catcher, and anywhere on the infield.

In staying with salary dumping, why not trade him for a couple handfuls of low level prospects?

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

When money is not the issue why would the Mets give up good prospects for talent?  They will gladly trade the suspects 

Because they want to win. Their owner wants to win. They were woefully short on run prevention last season and it was an embarrassing collapse.

Twins don't have to trade Ryan, and there will be multiple bidders if they make him available. They shouldn't be able to pry him loose without offering great prospects. Of course, if you're of the opinion that Falvey is a moronic incompetent who is responsible for every failure of the organization in the last decade and someone else was actually responsible for any successes...then yeah, we'll only get a bag of magic beans.

I'll admit, the idea of trading a star pitcher to the Mets brings up unpleasant memories of what the potential return could be. 

Mets do have the prospect capital to make a deal that works for both teams. But I suspect McLean is off the table for them? The late season, successful debut in MLB makes him a guy they're counting on for 2026 in the rotation and swapping him for Ryan doesn't necessarily move the needle for them. They want a rotation that has Ryan and McLean leading the way, with guys like Manea & Montas moved off the roster, and guys like Peterson, Holmes, or Senga moved down to the back end.

[TNtwins85]

Nolan McLean, Jett Williams, Dylan Ross, Chris Suero for Joe Ryan. That is a haul for a guy 2 years away from free agency. A top guy that tends to wear down in August and September and also a guy that will be turning 30 this year. I’d also be in on Jonah Tong instead of McLean but the Mets would probably need to add a lottery ticket in with him as well. Maybe Yovanny Rodriguez. I think this is a fair and balanced trade that helps both teams and isn’t crazy.

[jorgenswest]

McLean is in another tier compared to the others and there is a significant gap between him and the others. The Twins shouldn’t take calls unless a team is starting with a prospect in that tier. I would prefer a position player but that is a preference. Getting a top flight prospect is more important. The call from the Mets has to start with McLean and then they can negotiate for an added position prospect among the FV50s. If McLean is off the table hang up the phone. They can get FV50s a year from now.

[Permanent Twins Fan]

Nowadays teams rarely trade away their top prospects. Deals like the Juan Soto to the Padres deal just don't happen anymore. If the Mets would be willing to give us Mclean along with Benge or Williams, I would jump on it, but I don't think that the Mets are going to offer that.

[jorgenswest]

4 minutes ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

Nowadays teams rarely trade away their top prospects. Deals like the Juan Soto to the Padres deal just don't happen anymore. If the Mets would be willing to give us Mclean along with Benge or Williams, I would jump on it, but I don't think that the Mets are going to offer that.

Concur. The only way to get that top flight prospect is to demand it and not engage in conversations without that prospect.

[Hubie29]

I would take McLean straight up. You know the Mets aren't going to include him with other prospects. 

[TopGunn#22]

I'm with jorgenswest on this.  There is no conversation with the Mets unless McLean is in the deal.  I had the opportunity to see the 24 year old McLean pitch on MLB Network 2 times this past season and I was IMPRESSED.  He was easily the most intriguing pitching prospect I saw this past season. (and there were some really interesting pitching prospects).

It was a very small sample size and I'm sure there will be some ups and downs as he establishes himself in MLB.  The Mets need to win NOW.  Ryan is a proven MLB pitcher.  He's an All Star who looks like he still has some room to get even better.  "Normally" the Mets would never part with a pitching prospect like McLean.  But the pressure to win NOW and (hopefully) a Twins FO that is firm that McLean is in the deal would get things done.

Jett Williams is ready for the majors but he's blocked by Lindor.  I imagine he'd have to play 2B or CF.  I'm more interested in Mark Vientos.  He's 25 years old.  In 2024 he blasted 27 HR's for the Mets.  Nagging injuries brought that down to 17 last year, but he's got legit power.  His 2024 OPS was .837.  In 2025 it fell to .702.  He's primarily a 3B but has played a little at 1B.  He could be our 1B/DH and also provide some Royce Lewis insurance at 3B.  Plus, with Culpepper and Houston on the way (and hopefully Roch Cholowsky) we don't need a SS in this trade.  

My trade would be:  Ryan (47.0 BBTV) for McLean (21.6)  Vientos (11.6) and Jonah Tong (12.6) Total 45.8.

McLean rides into spring training as our #2 SP behind Lopez.  This opens up a potential Baily Ober trade with a rotation of Lopez, McLean, Bradley, SWR and Matthews.  Tong provides depth but with his fastball/change up, 2-pitch mix, he could be a pretty good BP piece.  I still say the Twins need to spend some cash and sign a veteran FA Closer, but arms like Tong, Festa and Prielipp and maybe Abel in the BP is a good start on rebuilding the pen.  

I think any trade involving Ryan should include some pitching prospect with the potential to replace him.  That could be McLean from the Mets, Painter from the Phillies or Tolle from the Red Sox.  What I like about the Mets as a trade partner is that it gives the Twins a potential All Star SP in McLean, a position player in Vientos who adds power to the lineup and might just be the answer at 1B (or certainly DH) and it still gives the Twins another arm like Tong. 

Yes, there is no Catcher coming back to the Twins.  But this kind of trade allows the Twins to dangle Baily Ober and maybe get that Catcher.  Ober (16.6 value) straight up for the White Sox Edgar Quero (14.6) at least on paper and in perceived value gets the Twins a Catcher for NOW and the FUTURE.   

[TopGunn#22]

I agree Hubie.  I would take McLean straight up.  Baseball Trade Values be damned !!  

[Chembry]

I'm not as big on the Mets system as others here, but love all the comments.  McLean would be interesting for sure, he definitely had a strong debut. I'm not as high on Jonah Tong. I don't know much about Benge or Williams. 

A trade of McLean and Vientos for Ryan could be interesting.  As someone else pointed out, Vientos has played 1B at both the MLB level and in the minors, and would be under team control through 2029.

However, as someone else pointed out, I would love to see other entries in this series.  Particularly, Red Sox, Phillies, Cubs, and Giants.  

[NYCTK]

4 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

The Mets need to win NOW.  Ryan is a proven MLB pitcher.

The thing is, so is Nolan McLean at this point. In fact, I can promise you a fair amount of 2026 power rankings and projection systems will have McLean ahead of Ryan. 

We all like Ryan, but the Mets are not trading McLean for Ryan. Anyone still proposing this is just wasting everyone's time. Tong or Sproat are on the table, as are a slew of other pitching prospects in the Mets Pitching Pipeline - Santucci, Wenninger, Watson, Thornton. 

If you see a headline that McLean has been traded, it's bad news because it was for Skubal and the Twins will be facing him for the next 5 seasons. 

 

Edited October 17, 2025 by NYCTK
typo

[D.C Twins]

Starts with McLean and Tong... if we are trading elite pitching we better get at least 2 good shots at a future elite pitcher in return. 

[NYCTK]

5 minutes ago, Chembry said:

I'm not as high on Jonah Tong.

Tong is really interesting because he's not good enough right now. He needs to develop a third pitch he can rely on, cause currently he's just a really great fastball and a pretty good changeup. And that's just not good enough for the majors. 

If he fails to develop a third pitch he might turn into a pretty great reliever but that's obviously not the outcome you want for the minor league pitcher of the year. 

 

[D.C Twins]

1 hour ago, jorgenswest said:

Concur. The only way to get that top flight prospect is to demand it and not engage in conversations without that prospect.

... and that is EXACTLY what should happen.

Twins should be OK with keeping Ryan... he could still be part of the hopeful 2028 success. No need to trade him for anything less than what we want. 

[Chembry]

2 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Tong is really interesting because he's not good enough right now. He needs to develop a third pitch he can rely on, cause currently he's just a really great fastball and a pretty good changeup. And that's just not good enough for the majors. 

If he fails to develop a third pitch he might turn into a pretty great reliever but that's obviously not the outcome you want for the minor league pitcher of the year. 

 

I have seen him pitch several times in both AAA and MLB, that was my takeaway as well.