Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

Rosenthal: The Twins Are Closing the Door on Joe Ryan Trade Talks

Cody Christie

By Cody Christie
in Minnesota Twins Talk

 Share

Recommended Posts

Cody Christie GOAT

Cody Christie

Twins Daily Contributor
Posted
Posted

The Minnesota Twins entered the offseason surrounded by questions about direction and intent after a trade deadline that saw nearly 40 percent of their major league roster moved to cut payroll and restock the farm system. That kind of sell-off usually signals more changes to come, but the early indications suggest Minnesota is drawing a clear line. The Twins appear committed to keeping their veteran core intact, including Pablo Lopez, Byron Buxton, and Joe Ryan, rather than continuing down a full teardown path.

That commitment has become increasingly apparent as rival teams continue to check in on Ryan. Interest around the league has not slowed, but the Twins’ response has. According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Minnesota is no longer engaging in meaningful trade conversations involving the right-hander.

“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.”

This is the second time this winter that Rosenthal reinforced the idea that Ryan is expected to remain in the organization for next season. The message has been consistent, and perhaps most telling is the detail that the Twins have not even discussed Ryan internally with other clubs since early November. This is not posturing or leverage building. It sounds like a firm stance.

From the outside, the interest makes complete sense. Ryan is under club control for two more seasons, has proven he can miss bats at a high level, and fits neatly into the rotation of almost any contender. For a team that already showed a willingness to move significant pieces in July, trading Ryan would be an easy way to continue shedding payroll while bringing back a meaningful prospect haul.

But context matters, and this is where the Twins drawing a line feels justified.

The American League Central remains wide open. Minnesota has endured two straight disappointing seasons, yet a powerhouse rival does not stand in the way of a return to relevance. If Ryan and Pablo Lopez stay healthy, the bullpen finds its footing again, and the young hitters take even modest steps forward, the Twins can absolutely contend for a postseason spot.

That is a lot of ifs, and nobody should pretend otherwise. Still, there is a difference between acknowledging risk and surrendering before the season begins. Trading Ryan now would be a clear signal that the Twins are not interested in finding out what this roster can be.

There is also no urgency. If the team finds itself buried again next summer, the trade deadline will still be there. Ryan will still have value. For now, fans deserve to see whether this group can put the pieces together and chase another playoff birth. 


View full rumor

  • Replies 81
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

ashbury
ashbury

If they do that then maybe they get an invite to the World Baseball Classic and an outside chance at the FIFA Peace Prize.

LA Vikes Fan
LA Vikes Fan

I think the Twins approach makes perfect sense. The Division is wide open, why relegate yourself to non-contender status before the season even begins? For those who would say we are non-contenders ev

Riverbrian
Riverbrian

Ladies and Gentlemen. The Twins are going for it! 

bunsen82 First Round Pick

bunsen82

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

What I have gotten out of the Rosenthal report is they aren’t approaching teams about Ryan and as of now they are planning to start the season with him. They haven’t shut down conversations though and if someone was really serious and gave them an overpay they will do. Or wait until the trade deadline. Ryan continues to dominate the 1st half of the season, so I think this approach should work out ok. 

bunsen82 First Round Pick

bunsen82

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, mnfireman said:

By this time of the off-season (and last season's trade deadline) they have heard every teams best offer and they haven't gotten a proposal they like. 

I disagree best offers generally come January or February when teams have big plans or have a window open for the season but have struck out on free agents.  

LA Vikes Fan FCL Twins

LA Vikes Fan

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

I think the Twins approach makes perfect sense. The Division is wide open, why relegate yourself to non-contender status before the season even begins? For those who would say we are non-contenders even with Ryan we are just going to have to agree to disagree. My thinking is that IF (and its a big IF) the starting pitching stays healthy and we can cobble together a bullpen, the pitching alone is good enough to stay above .500 and that's title competitive in the AL Central. It's even more competitive if Detroit is dumb enough to trade Skubal out of the division. 

It's also the right way to play it given the trade deadline fall back option. I disagree with the poster who said you get better value in the offseason. That's only true IF you're trading MLB players for MLB players. IF we trade Ryan (or Lopez or Buxton for that mater), we're tearing down to rebuild. We aren't looking for MLB players; we're looking for a prospect haul and we'll take guys 2-3 years away like Gabriel Gonzalez when we got him from Seattle. By the way, that's a trade that's looking like it might be a good one since Polanco is in New York after having one lousy year and one good one, and Gonzalez is our best MiLB hitter and the second most likely to be an above average MLB hitter behind Jenkins. When do you get the best prospect haul? At the trade deadline when teams convince themselves they are just one #2 starter away from the WS so go for it now. And this is all without considering the message trading Ryan would send to the team and the fans, how it would depress interest and attendance even further, and how having veterans around helps develop young players faster. Keeping Ryan makes sense on both a baseball and business level.  

I don't agree with a lot of what this FO has done and is doing but keeping Ryan for the first half of 2026 makes the most sense to me. I'm glad to see that's the play.   

 

bean5302 Cedar Rapids Kernels

bean5302

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
34 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I think the Twins approach makes perfect sense. The Division is wide open, why relegate yourself to non-contender status before the season even begins? For those who would say we are non-contenders even with Ryan we are just going to have to agree to disagree. My thinking is that IF (and its a big IF) the starting pitching stays healthy and we can cobble together a bullpen, the pitching alone is good enough to stay above .500 and that's title competitive in the AL Central. It's even more competitive if Detroit is dumb enough to trade Skubal out of the division. 

It's also the right way to play it given the trade deadline fall back option. I disagree with the poster who said you get better value in the offseason. That's only true IF you're trading MLB players for MLB players. IF we trade Ryan (or Lopez or Buxton for that mater), we're tearing down to rebuild. We aren't looking for MLB players; we're looking for a prospect haul and we'll take guys 2-3 years away like Gabriel Gonzalez when we got him from Seattle. By the way, that's a trade that's looking like it might be a good one since Polanco is in New York after having one lousy year and one good one, and Gonzalez is our best MiLB hitter and the second most likely to be an above average MLB hitter behind Jenkins. When do you get the best prospect haul? At the trade deadline when teams convince themselves they are just one #2 starter away from the WS so go for it now. And this is all without considering the message trading Ryan would send to the team and the fans, how it would depress interest and attendance even further, and how having veterans around helps develop young players faster. Keeping Ryan makes sense on both a baseball and business level.  

I don't agree with a lot of what this FO has done and is doing but keeping Ryan for the first half of 2026 makes the most sense to me. I'm glad to see that's the play.   

 

It's not a big if. It's a collection of "ifs" which is the problem, and for somebody like me, it's if I even feel like following the team watching "go big or go home Tom Pohlad" send the status quo team out there again this year.

sweetmusicviola16 FCL Twins

sweetmusicviola16

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

What will stop the Twins from returning to relevance is that this is a bad team. Doesn't matter if no powerhouse is in the division. It's a team with horrible roster construction. That is on the FO. With 2027 season having labor questions trade deadline deals for players with one guaranteed year of service time left will be significantly low imo. Fire Falvey. Tough talking Tom talks a good game but does nothing.

SteveLV First Round Pick

SteveLV

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

If the Twins turn down a bona fide, legitimate great offer for Ryan they are foolish. There is ZERO indication they want to extend him, so you are weighing 2026-7 production and then a Comp Pick (which might help out at some very distant point in the future) vs. the value of a trade offer for Ryan now.

For a variety of speculative reasons (Falvey trying to keep his job, Pohlad's trying to sell the team, likely forlorn attempt to actually be relevant in 2026 without actually spending any money, whatever) they want to hang on to him.  If he hurts himself or underperforms, or some combination of the two, they are going to rue the day they did not make the move.

Again, if they want to open negotiations for an extension that is a whole 'nuther story, but I think we all know that is never happening.

jorgenswest St Paul Saints

jorgenswest

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

I don’t get the binary of all in and going for the World Series or bust thinking.

Baseball is a great game and almost every year we are guaranteed 162 games. I enjoy watching Ryan pitch for the Twins and every game he starts gives them a better chance to win than who ever happens to be the 5th starter at the time.

Those 162 is why I watch baseball. It isn’t the dream of a pennant.

JD-TWINS Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

JD-TWINS

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
On 12/24/2025 at 10:36 AM, KGB said:

Not at least listening to offers on any player seems like a big mistake. With the potential strike, it's unlikely they will get more at the trade deadline. 

Expecting the Organization, any Organization, to air every thought or strategy via the media is also a big mistake. What Ken Rosenthal or anyone else reports or thinks is just for entertainment sake. Everything & everyone is for sale at the right price - Team, Player or Prospect.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
The Twins Daily Caretaker Fund
The Twins Daily Caretaker Fund

You all care about this site. The next step is caring for it. We’re asking you to caretake this site so it can remain the premier Twins community on the internet.

Become a Caretaker

  • Member Statistics

    20,445
    Total Members
    48,845
    Most Online
    JakaBasej05
    Newest Member
    JakaBasej05
    Joined
×
×
  • Create New...