What the Brewers Can Teach the Twins About Trading Joe Ryan

[Jim H]

I hope the Twins keep Ryan mostly because he is fun to watch pitch. Also he he has stayed healthy which may be luck but could an efficient throwing motion and the fact he doesn't have to throw 100 % on every pitch to be effective. I expect he could be one of those pitchers who can continue to effective into his mid thirties.

The Twins can certainly sign him either now or when he becomes a free agent if they are willing to pay him market rates. Since a salary floor seems pretty likely, I would like to see the money spent on a real star like Ryan. Because the money will be be spent somewhere, probably for aging non stars like they have been doing the last few years. Only at inflated rates because everybody will have to meet the salary floor.

I don't know how close to truly competitive the Twins really are. I expect that depends on how good the near ready prospects turn out to be. Having an ace, maybe two if Lopez can come back to his former effectiveness, would go a long way to anchoring a competitive team.

[JD-TWINS]

5 hours ago, strumdatjag said:

Of course, the Twins accept an overpayment for Ryan 

But FIRST concentrate on moving one of our three catchers.  I’d like to see Jeffers signed longterm with Caratini traded to a contender desperate for a catcher (but keeping Caratini and trading Jeffers should be explored as well).  
The Twins have too many left-handed hitting outfielders.  Try to trade some of that glut for one or two major league arms and more minor league pitching prospects.  
Use the deadline to start to rebalance the roster and the minor league system. 

Buxton - Martin - Keaschall - Gonzalez ……. maybe Kreidler if Culpepper is up in 6 weeks…… 70-75% of pitchers are RH. I do not see a problem with having too many LH batting Outfileders.

Emma hasn’t played 75 games in a summer for 4 summers or more (at least it seems that way!) Roden  - Jenkins  & then Larnach as future DH platoon.

To me, Wallner does not register as a Twin’s player any longer. Hope I’m wrong but Kody Clemens - Luke Keaschall - Allen Roden are  ALL now (or have been) ahead of Matt.

Trades are legal - don’t have to trade the oldest guys first.

[TheLeviathan]

The Twins are in a crappy spot.  They burned their own fanbase with the fakeout on selling the team and slashing payroll after a fun postseason.  They aren't winning fans back easily and the only path, IMO, is sustained winning.

Joe Ryan, hypothetically, could be a great means to that end....but all reporting we have is that he hasn't been interested in an extension.  Which sure feels like he's counting the days to hit the open market.  Good for him, have loved watching him pitch, hope he gets a bag of cash.  But the Twins can't let him walk for nothing.  Too many other failures, coupled with MLB's economics, make it nothing short of malfeasance to watch that happen.

Now...the Brewers haven't come away well in most of these trades.  It doesn't look great.  Several deals of the last five years (Snell, Glasnow, Burnes, Peralta, etc) don't look great for the trading team.  That stinks, but what other path is there but the wisest one?

Some comp pick for Ryan won't help Walter Jenkins.  And maybe trading Ryan won't either, but I know which one has a better chance to.

[Mike Sixel]

How many years have they made the playoffs with Ryan lately? It's time to start over. 

[weitz41]

If only the AL was decent in W/L records this decision would be much simpler. Then throw in a new CBA. (eventually) Two new ownership groups added 500 mil and Tom Pohlads 1st season as CEO...What a mess...

Just on the unknown CBA makes comparing the trades mentioned kind unfair. The Brewers had years of clear sailing ahead. I don't want to get into the weeds on the new CBA. To many unknowns

If one or two of Pablo, Festa or Abel were healthy and performing, now is the time. But they aren't... Plus the SP depth is completely depleted. I guess I'm in the "if it's a substantial overpay" column. A top 15 player you just can't pass those offers up. A package of 3-4 maybes, I'd pass.

Also, I think extending Ryan is likely to turn out bad. He's going to want 4-7 years, is 30 years old. That's a lot of miles on his arm. To many pitcher crash and burn after age 32.

[TopGunn#22]

I'd hate to see Joe Ryan get traded.  Some pitchers are just more fun to watch than others and Joe Ryan is one of those guys.  But there are certain realities we have to acknowledge as fans.  

1.  The Twins are "competitive" this season only because they play in the worst division of any pro league, and the American League is a shambles.  I can't remember the last time it was this moribund.  Probably 1968 minus the Tigers.

2.  We are not serious contenders for anything.  I can't imagine there isn't a FO in baseball who IS NOT calculating how the Lockout/Strike could effect their team and payroll for 2027.

3.  The Twins 2 biggest trade assets:  Joe Ryan and Ryan Jeffers do not want to be Minnesota Twins anymore.  Neither has shown any interest in signing an extension (I have to believe the Twins have at least ASKED them about it, and probably have been rebuffed).

4.  With 1991 waaaay back in the rearview mirror, is there anyone on TD who loves or even LIKES the Pohlad Family as owners?  ANYBODY?  The same goes for the FO people they have employed.  ANYBODY?  If the feeling is we shouldn't make trades because we're just not that good at it (in general, the Nelson Cruz and Joe Ryan trades were great) then we not only need a new ownership group but a complete revamp of our FO.  

5.  We have the chance to add a possible game changing player in the MLB draft today and a prevailing opinion is that we hope the FO doesn't get cute, or outthink themselves and screw it up.  With that kind of reality, we need a new FO.  

6.  The fan base is not happy with ownership or FO leadership/decision making.  Trading Joe Ryan or Ryan Jeffers can't damage this any more than it already is.  Only NEW ownership and leadership will wipe the slate clean and at least lead to fans willing to give the franchise a "2nd Chance."  Labor strife is just around the corner.  It's a perfect storm.

7.  Today, we should at least hold our collective breath until the first 2 picks of the draft are made and then take a deep breath before this FO makes our selection.  Then, if indeed they don't get too cute or over think the obvious, breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the future star we end up with.  

8.  The trade deadline can wait until after this weekend.  

[twinstalker]

This article is the best and most relevant topic in a while.  For whatever reason, Minnesotans would rather keep an average player than obtain a better player.  We'd rather play the victim when a player we should have traded gets hurt or spurns us for his next contract.  Good organizations take all emotion and weird connections out of the equation.  Sure, you overpay Kirby Puckett rather than let him go, there are exceptions.  But we cannot let this weird attachment thing determine how the roster is shaped.  #1 example is Anthony Edwards.

I've said trade him, and people automatically freak out.  "He's one of the most talented players in the world!" (yes he is).  "He's a top five player in the league!"  (no he's not, not remotely).  "I like Ant!" (because you've become attached to him and for some reason place more importance on that than winning)

An't's best attribute?  His trade value.

Joe Ryan's best attribute for a mediocre team he has 1.5 years remaining with?  His trade value.

Ryan Jeffers?  His trade value.

Koby Clemens? His trade value, possibly.  He also may be a stabilizer for carryover.

Larnach?  Probably his trade value for the first time since he was a minor league prospect.

Josh Bell? whatever little you can get.

Yeah, it's fun to be in the playoff race, and I understand fans are frustrated, but you don't do what you did last summer if you aren't willing to do it again.