Four Trade Packages That Actually Make Sense for Joe Ryan

Joe Ryan is exactly the type of player every contender covets at the MLB Trade Deadline. He has developed into one of the American League's most consistent starters, earning an All-Star selection while posting another sub-3.50 ERA season. Better yet, Ryan isn't a rental. He remains under team control through 2027, making him one of the most valuable starting pitchers who could realistically be available this summer.

That's why his name continues to surface in trade speculation, even as the Twins insist they want to add rather than subtract. If Minnesota remains in the Wild Card race, Ryan isn't going anywhere. However, if the club falls out of contention over the next two weeks, the front office would have to at least listen. Pitchers with Ryan's production, durability, and affordable contract rarely become available, and the bidding would be fierce.

Diamond Centric currently ranks Ryan as the third best trade deadline candidate behind Mason Miller and Tarik Skubal. There’s no guarantee that either of those arms gets moved, so Ryan could be the top player traded at the deadline. Here’s what Diamond Centric said about Ryan:

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There’s no actual evidence that starting pitching becomes more important in the postseason than it is for the rest of the year, but that doesn’t stop teams from pining for starters who clear a certain bar for reliability and bat-missing capability. When he’s right, Ryan is that kind of starter. He’s tracking toward what would be his second straight All-Star appearance, and despite a minor elbow scare in early May, he’s taken the ball every turn through the rotation. He doesn’t throw as hard as many of the game’s elite starters, but he has two fastball shapes, multiple breaking balls, and sometimes a splitter that can devastate lefties. He’s always racked up great strikeout rates with his wide arsenal’s disparate movement, and he’s so good at inducing chases that he rarely walks people. So far this year, he’s also toned down what was his bugaboo in the past: giving up too many homers. It hasn’t been enough to truly keep the rebuilding-on-the-go Twins afloat, though, and everyone involved knows the team would prefer to maximize the value they get from him by trading him this summer, rather than waiting until the winter (when teams will cough up much less) or next summer (by which point they’ll have had to pay him another several million dollars). Ryan’s career has followed an unfortunate pattern whereby he often peters out a bit in the second half, but if he holds up well through the All-Star break, he’ll be one of the hottest names on the rumor mill on the other side of it.

Not every contender has the prospect capital to make a competitive offer. Some farm systems simply can't match Ryan's value, while others line up almost perfectly with what Minnesota should seek in return. Instead of focusing only on potential destinations, these are four realistic trade packages that could make sense for both sides if the Twins ultimately decide to move one of their biggest stars.

New York Yankees

Twins fans would hate this, but the Yankees are never shy about making aggressive moves when they believe another World Series run is within reach. With questions surrounding their rotation and several key injuries throughout the roster, adding an All-Star starter like Joe Ryan would immediately become one of the biggest deadline upgrades available.

New York also has one of the deepest farm systems among contenders. If the Twins are going to move Ryan, they need impact talent at the top of the return, and that conversation should start with George Lombard Jr. The 21-year-old has developed into one of baseball's better infield prospects and is close enough to the majors to envision him helping Minnesota as early as next season.

To make the value work, the Yankees could pair Lombard with left-hander Elmer Rodríguez, another upper-level prospect with mid-rotation upside. Minnesota would land a potential everyday infielder and another young arm capable of joining its next competitive core. That's the type of package it should demand for a pitcher with Ryan's résumé and another season of club control.

Seattle Mariners

Few organizations can match Seattle's collection of young talent, which makes the Mariners an intriguing trade partner. If Seattle wants to maximize its current championship window, it may need to trade from an area of strength. Ryan would slide into the front of the rotation immediately and give the Mariners another proven arm for multiple postseason runs.

The return starts with Kade Anderson, one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. His combination of stuff, command, and projection gives him legitimate top-of-the-rotation potential. Pairing him with infielder Michael Arroyo would give Minnesota another consensus top 100 prospect who is already knocking on the door of the upper minors. Arroyo's advanced approach at the plate and offensive upside would add another potential impact bat to an organization that has prioritized position-player depth.

This proposal offers the Twins the best of both worlds: a potential frontline starter and an advanced middle infielder with everyday upside. Premium starting pitching is one of the hardest assets to acquire, and adding a player like Arroyo gives Minnesota an impact position player who could arrive in the big leagues on a similar timeline as the club's next wave of prospects.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers seem to find themselves connected to every impact player at the trade deadline, and Ryan would fit their model perfectly, especially with his California roots. Los Angeles doesn't need another back-end starter, it needs someone capable of starting Game 2 or Game 3 in a postseason series.

Unlike Seattle, the Dodgers' strength is position-player talent. Their system is loaded with athletic outfielders who may eventually struggle to find opportunities in Los Angeles because of the organization's major league depth.

Mike Sirota and Eduardo Quintero would be an appealing combination for Minnesota. Good news for Twins fans is that both players are right-handed to add to the team’s left-handed heavy prospect list. Sirota brings impact power and athleticism, while Quintero has quietly developed into one of the organization's better all-around offensive prospects. Together, they would give the Twins two legitimate everyday position-player candidates without sacrificing years of team control.

The Dodgers have repeatedly shown they're willing to move prospects for proven major league talent. If Ryan becomes available, this feels like the type of deal Andrew Friedman would seriously explore.

San Diego Padres

If one team is going to be part of a blockbuster, it might be San Diego. The Padres have spent the last several seasons chasing another deep postseason run, but injuries have once again exposed their rotation depth. Ryan would immediately become one of the club's most dependable starters while remaining under control beyond this season.

San Diego’s farm system is depleted after multiple years of blockbuster trades. Any conversation between Minnesota and San Diego would likely begin with Ethan Salas, San Diego’s lone top 100 prospect. Despite an up-and-down development path, Salas remains one of baseball's premier catching prospects and possesses the type of ceiling organizations rarely make available.

To match Ryan's value, the Padres could include left-hander Kruz Schoolcraft, a towering pitching prospect with frontline upside if everything clicks. Minnesota would walk away with a potential big-league catcher and another premium arm, giving the organization impact talent at two premium positions. However, Minnesota spent its first two draft picks on catchers last week, so the Padres might not have the prospect capital to make this trade. 

The Twins aren't actively shopping Ryan (yet), nor should they be. A pitcher with his combination of production, durability, and affordable team control is exactly the type of player every organization hopes to build around. If Minnesota stays in the playoff race, keeping Ryan gives the club its best chance to compete this season and next.

However, every player has a price. If the Twins find themselves slipping out of contention before the deadline, Ryan instantly becomes one of the most valuable starting pitchers available. That means the return can't be centered around organizational depth or lottery-ticket prospects. Minnesota should be targeting players who project as future everyday contributors or impact starters. The types of prospects capable of becoming foundational pieces for the next winning core.

Whether it's Lombard Jr., Anderson, Salas, or another elite prospect, the Twins would only have one opportunity to maximize Ryan's value. If they're willing to make that move, the return needs to be significant enough that fans look back in three or four years and understand exactly why the organization pulled the trigger.

Which package is the best fit for the Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion.