Mets Interested In Trading For Joe Ryan

[Cody Christie]

The Mets are surveying the trade market for rotation upgrades and have expressed interest in Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, who remains appealing due to his affordability and remaining club control. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Ryan is one of several trade targets for the Mets.

Minnesota, which unexpectedly tore down much of its roster at the 2025 trade deadline, held onto Ryan despite significant interest from multiple contenders. His strong performance and team-friendly salary make him a valuable asset, and the Twins’ willingness to move him now remains uncertain.

Much of Minnesota’s direction hinges on ownership and the status of two long-anticipated minority-ownership additions, which could influence the team’s budget. President of baseball operations Derek Falvey has said he intends to build for 2026 unless directed otherwise, though the club’s quiet offseason and drastically reduced payroll leave their true intentions unclear. A deeper sell-off that includes Ryan, Pablo López, Ryan Jeffers, or even a reassessment of Byron Buxton’s no-trade stance becomes more plausible if spending remains restricted.

If the Twins do consider a Ryan trade, Mets prospect Jonah Tong makes sense as a centerpiece (Heyman mentioned Tong specifically in the article). His rapid rise through the minors and elite strikeout rates have established him as a top-50 prospect, despite early struggles in his MLB debut.

The upcoming Winter Meetings are expected to reveal whether Minnesota plans to add pieces for a 2026 push or continue stripping down the roster, with payroll flexibility likely determining how aggressively they act and whether their top players become realistic trade chips.

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[Cody Christie]

Earlier this winter, I wrote about a potential Joe Ryan trade with the Mets. Find out about the prospects they have at the top of their system. 
 

 

[thelanges5]

You’re welcome MLB world! Happy to see everyone having lots of speculation fun at the expense of those of us in Twins Territory. 
 

Give us some direction Pohlads, minority owners?, Falvey, Zoll!?! Anyone, Bueller?

[Mike Sixel]

Ethan
2:05    What’s a fair package for Pablo Lopez if the Mets were to trade for him?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:08    Starting pitching is valuable so it won't be cheap. Mets farm system is stacked, though, so they can afford it. For two seasons of Lopez, I'll say either Sproat or Tong, either Jacob Reimer, Jett Williams or AJ Ewing, and maybe a 3rd prospect with high upside but far from the big leagues.

I'd do that so fast my brain would hurt.

[Riverbrian]

The Mets need starting pitching bad so non surprise on the rumor.

Actually no surprise if 20 teams are interested. Let's see who pays the price because everyone wants starting pitching.  

According to BBTV. I know... BBTV isn't the be all end all. 

Ryan 52.7

It would have to be Tong (If that's who the Twins indeed like) 25.3

Plus either: 

Sproat 23.2 or Baty 24.5 or Benge 23.3 or Vientos 19.8 or Jett Williams 20.3.  

That add up to 49.8 at the highest and 45.1 at the lowest.

The Mets would still come up short so they may need to throw in a bullpen option or a young lottery ticket.  

Disclaimer: I have no strong opinions on any of the names that I posted. I'm just reading off of BBTV and adding up the value. Nor strong opinions on the accuracy of BBTV.    

[nicksaviking]

If the Mets are telling Heyman that they are interested in Ryan, then they're probably also the ones floating the idea of Tong. 

So Tong is going towards the bottom of my list of top Mets prospects.

[tony&rodney]

If the trades are what must happen, let it be a Pablo Lopez for Jonah Tong, Carson Benge or Jett Williams deal. Maybe Boston gets excited and trades Jarren Duran for Lopez. That is helpful for both teams.

Save Joe Ryan and if they need to trade Ryan, make it for a top prospect type.

[old nurse]

Quality players the Mets have traded for in the Moneybags Era

 Lindor

Baez

Mullins

 

None were a pitcher. What did the Mets give up?  Giiminez and Rosario have had moments, but not this year 2 suspects. Next Pete Crow-Armstrong as a 18 or 10 year old. Acting GM was Aved GM. Next, low level prospects.  

 

It is not going to be earth shattering news that somebody would trade for Ryan or Buxton.  Don’t expect to like the return from the Mets 

[tony&rodney]

52 minutes ago, old nurse said:

Quality players the Mets have traded for in the Moneybags Era

 Lindor

Baez

Mullins

 

None were a pitcher. What did the Mets give up?  Giiminez and Rosario have had moments, but not this year 2 suspects. Next Pete Crow-Armstrong as a 18 or 10 year old. Acting GM was Aved GM. Next, low level prospects.  

 

It is not going to be earth shattering news that somebody would trade for Ryan or Buxton.  Don’t expect to like the return from the Mets 

No deal then, which is fine with me.

QO is a decent draft pick.

[Dman]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

It is not going to be earth shattering news that somebody would trade for Ryan or Buxton.  Don’t expect to like the return from the Mets 

I tend to agree.  The Mets just like to lowball teams.  I can't see them giving up low cost pitching or anything approaching Ryan's real value.  As others have stated teams are loathe to give up their top players.  Twins couldn't get traction on Painter for Duran had to Settle for their fourth best prospect and and Abel who was heading down and out of top 100 lists.

Mets will likely try and do the same thing.  We'll have to wait and see, but I don't see the Mets getting Ryan.  Maybe Lopez just because the Twins would be more inclined to shed salary.

[old nurse]

5 hours ago, Dman said:

I tend to agree.  The Mets just like to lowball teams.  I can't see them giving up low cost pitching or anything approaching Ryan's real value.  As others have stated teams are loathe to give up their top players.  Twins couldn't get traction on Painter for Duran had to Settle for their fourth best prospect and and Abel who was heading down and out of top 100 lists.

Mets will likely try and do the same thing.  We'll have to wait and see, but I don't see the Mets getting Ryan.  Maybe Lopez just because the Twins would be more inclined to shed salary.

6 years of a player a team is convinced will be good is the bargain no team can pass on. 

Position players heading down off the list is usually,  but not always a bad sign.  Pitching prospects and these lists are closer to dues than not. 

[old nurse]

8 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

No deal then, which is fine with me.

QO is a decent draft pick.

The chances of getting a player that approaches the talent of the player you are trading increase as the player you are trading away accumulated WAR approaches zero. 

[TNtwins85]

Well Pittsburgh just got a 55 grade prospect close to the majors for an ok starting pitcher going to Boston to try to claim his upside. Granted there was more in the deal but if that’s the market for a starting pitcher then it better be Benge and Tong to just get the conversation started. 

[MGX]

If the Twins trade Joe Ryan they need to set the price for each team that inquires. The Twins/Falvey have the leverage & they need use it. For example if the Mets are truly interested in Ryan & the Twins want McLean in return & the Mets say no then Falvey needs to say ok.

The worst thing that can happen is moving your best trade asset & letting the other team set the price. If no one will give you the price you asking for keep Ryan. With that said there are a lot of teams that need starting pitching not just the east coast teams we always hear about. The Twins need to explore all possibilities for any trades they may make this off-season. As an example the A's are loaded with the type of players we could use & they have a need for starting pitching.

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, MGX said:

If the Twins trade Joe Ryan they need to set the price for each team that inquires. The Twins/Falvey have the leverage & they need use it. For example if the Mets are truly interested in Ryan & the Twins want McLean in return & the Mets say no then Falvey needs to say ok.

The worst thing that can happen is moving your best trade asset & letting the other team set the price. If no one will give you the price you asking for keep Ryan. With that said there are a lot of teams that need starting pitching not just the east coast teams we always hear about. The Twins need to explore all possibilities for any trades they may make this off-season. As an example the A's are loaded with the type of players we could use & they have a need for starting pitching.

I totally agree and believe the A's would be smart to consider trading for Ryan. There are a couple of ways the Twins and A's match up.

[tony&rodney]

11 hours ago, Dman said:

I tend to agree.  The Mets just like to lowball teams.  I can't see them giving up low cost pitching or anything approaching Ryan's real value.  As others have stated teams are loathe to give up their top players.  Twins couldn't get traction on Painter for Duran had to Settle for their fourth best prospect and and Abel who was heading down and out of top 100 lists.

Mets will likely try and do the same thing.  We'll have to wait and see, but I don't see the Mets getting Ryan.  Maybe Lopez just because the Twins would be more inclined to shed salary.

Worth remembering for one thing that Jhoan Duran is a relief pitcher. Secondly, the Twins (or so we were told via numerous articles) targeted Eduardo Tait and settled on Mick Abel. The Twins were specifically not in on either Crawford or Miller. Thus, the return of the 2nd and 3rd best prospect for a closer seems reasonable. Personally I was hoping the Twins had worked with a few other teams but they received the guy they targeted. 

If a team won't pay the high price for Ryan, he stays, same with Buxton. Pablo Lopez may be a different matter due to his higher salary. The Twins are currently below $100M for roster payroll, so if they are thinking that Lopez must to be traded there may be some very significant problems within the Twins books.

I would suggest that the owners need to pass various rules for their little club of owners that restrict financial shenanigans to avoid future problems with individual clubs going bankrupt. This should have been done a dozen years ago when the Dodgers went belly up. The Dodgers bankruptcy situation is directly related to the poor manner in which revenue is shared today. MLB thought they needed to give LAD special privileges to stay solvent.  

[TopGunn#22]

When Byron Buxton let it slip that he's open to being traded it really shifted what the post season plan should be.  On one hand, we add at the fringes and try to run it back for a team that looked horrible in August and September.  On the other hand, a complete tear down and dive into a full rebuild seems more likely now.

It's going to be hard to sell fans on the idea that the Twins are an actual contender in the A.L. Central with one of Ryan or Lopez being traded and Cody Clemens/Eddie Julien at 1B, and with tons of other question marks around the diamond.

So with the idea TD has put out, that the Mets have interest in Joe Ryan, Byron Buxton and possibly even Pablo Lopez, let's create a trade scenario that gives them everything they need and hastens the Twins rebuild.  As MGX said, the Twins need to set the price for Ryan (and Buxton and Lopez for that matter) to every team that inquires.  Falvey should realize he's holding all the cards.  How bad do the Mets want to win in 2026 and for a sustainable window beyond?

Mets Get:  Ryan 52.7  Lopez  16.5 and Buxton 19.0  Zebby Matthews 17.8   Total Value: 106

Twins Get:  Nolan Mclean 40.5   Jonah Tong  25.3   Mark Vientos 19.8  Jett Williams 20.3  Total:  105.9

It's a fair trade on the paper of BBTV.  Not the be all/end all of trade value but at least some kind of measuring stick.

The Mets would have a starting staff of Ryan, Lopez, Manaea, Senga, David Peterson and Clay Holmes with Buxton starting in CF.  Batey steps in for Vientos at 3B. 

The Twins rotation would consist of McLean, SWR, Bradley, Ober, Tong, Abel, Prielipp.  The Twins lose Buxton's glove and bat in CF but gain a 26 year old power bat in Vientos who could play 1B/3B/DH, along with Jett Williams, who can either push Brooks Lee for SS or possibly battle E-Rod or Jenkins for CF by mid-June/July 1st.  

The Mets have a mandate to win NOW.  This trade sets them up with proven veterans who can put them over the top in an extremely competitive N.L. East with the Braves and Phillies, and a super competitive National League with the Dodgers ever lurking.  If the Mets want to compete, and get the bitter taste out of their mouths from last season's collapse, they need to be BOLD.   

The Twins shave a lot of payroll.  Maybe $40 million.  That's a drop in the bucket to the Mets.  Maybe this allows the Twins to sign a real closer and shore up some other areas.

And as long as the full rebuild has begun, look to deal Larnach, Ober, Wallner and Jeffers.  Get that young, MLB ready catcher (Edgar Quero, Harry Ford).  Let the youth movement begin.  Let fans grow into the youth and make 2026 a "finding our footing" season.  Whatever becomes of the 2027 season, guys like Walker Jenkins, K. Culpepper, E-Rod, Prielipp, Raya and Gabe Gonzalez will either already have been up in 2026, or would certainly be knocking on the door in 2027...whenever baseball starts playing games that year that count. 

I could get a little excited about a kick start to a rebuild like that.   

 

[SteveLV]

Bad trade for the Twins, IMO.  BBTV seriously undervalues Buxton, and why are the Twins trading Mathews?  He is young and fits their time profile.

Sorry to criticize, just my honest feedback.

Love McLean and Tong, lukewarm on the other 2.  Not sure the Twins need yet another 2B.