Joe Ryan’s Close Call Could Expedite Minnesota’s Trade Deadline Decision

On Sunday, Joe Ryan walked off the mound after just nine pitches, and Twins Territory collectively held its breath. The initial diagnosis was right elbow soreness. With Pablo López already sidelined for the season following Tommy John surgery, concern spread quickly. Minnesota fans have seen this story before, and it rarely ends well.

Fortunately, the tone shifted quickly. Imaging revealed no structural damage, and Ryan was back on the field playing catch before Tuesday’s game. A bullpen session Wednesday went well, and there is a real chance Ryan takes his next turn in the rotation. For now, the organization and its fan base can ease their nerves, even if only slightly.

“I didn’t feel too much discomfort,” Ryan said. “You never know. The injuries I’ve had in the past have kind of been—it wasn’t this excruciating pain or anything crazy, and then I’ve been optimistic on the other side and had bad results. This time around, having good results definitely was, obviously, a win-win and reassuring. You never know until the imaging comes back.”

“There will be a watchful eye,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “The first thing you want with any of your players, or especially your pitchers, is if they feel something, especially in their arm, we want them to communicate it. We want to make sure we’re not going to put him in harm’s way. We will carefully monitor this situation. The one really great thing about Joe is, he is probably in tune with his body as any player I’ve ever been around. He can articulate really well what he’s feeling.”

That awareness represents growth. Not long ago, Ryan tried to pitch through an injury, rather than being proactive about communication with the team. In 2023, he took the ball against the Atlanta Braves despite dealing with a groin issue suffered during warmups. The results were brutal (5 homers), and the lingering effects were even worse. He carried the injury through multiple outings, posting an ERA north of 8.00 before finally acknowledging something was wrong. This time, he did the opposite. He spoke up immediately, and that decision may have prevented a far more serious outcome.

Still, even a minor scare like this can ripple through a front office. Coming into this season, Ryan looked as important to the Twins' future as anyone on the team—whether he was destined to be physically present in Minnesota for that future or not. His name has surfaced in trade speculation before, including last year when a false report briefly sent him to the Boston Red Sox in the rumor mill. That chatter has not disappeared. If anything, it's growing louder as the deadline approaches.

This situation complicates things. On one hand, Ryan’s clean MRI and quick return to throwing should reassure potential buyers. On the other hand, it serves as a reminder of how fragile pitching depth can be. Minnesota has already lost López for the year, and Ryan himself missed significant time in 2024 with a shoulder strain that ended his season early. That track record matters, both internally and in trade conversations.

If the team has decided that trading Ryan is the best way to balance their short- and long-term competitive goals, this scare could motivate them to act fast. Waiting until late July won't materially increase his value, and in the meantime, all the injury risk associated with him is the Twins' to manage. An early trade to one of the many teams who weren't so lucky this spring when their ace came up with a barking elbow makes sense. 

There's also the possibility that this moment pushes Minnesota in the opposite direction. Rather than entertaining offers, the front office could decide that holding onto Ryan is the safer path. Twins ownership has been vocal about the team contending this year, even if the results haven’t matched that narrative. Contending teams rarely subtract stability from their rotation, and even a brief injury scare can reinforce just how important that stability is.

The more aggressive scenario would be exploring an earlier move, perhaps in June, once Ryan has reestablished himself. That approach would be unconventional, but it could allow the Twins to maximize return while avoiding the frenzy and uncertainty of late July. Of course, any acquiring team would scrutinize his medical history closely, making this far from a straightforward decision.

Ryan’s nine-pitch outing Sunday may not impact the standings, but it could shape the direction of the season. The Twins were given a fortunate outcome this time: clean imaging, quick recovery, and no immediate damage. But it also served as a reminder that plans can change instantly. For a team with an unclear future, that kind of reminder can be enough to rethink everything.

Should the Twins consider an early trade deadline deal for Ryan? Leave a comment and start the discussion.