Joe Ryan keeps looking like the kind of pitcher the Cubs should be chasing at the trade deadline, but there’s a catch that could make the whole thing messy.
The Minnesota Twins right-hander was already a name tied to Chicago last summer, and he’s back in the conversation again this year. ESPN ranked Ryan No. 4 on its list of trade candidates, and Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel put the odds of him being moved at 55%.
“Ryan was one of the lone survivors after the Twins' teardown last deadline -- and Minnesota was deep into discussions on deals involving him, as well. So, a move would surprise nobody, particularly considering that Ryan looks better than ever this season.”
That said, this is not the same setup the Twins had a year ago. Minnesota is still hanging around the American League Central race and remains in the Wild Card mix, which leaves real room for Ryan to stay put. So even with the buzz, he may not actually be available.
If he does hit the market, the Cubs would make sense as a suitor. Pitching is a need now, and Chicago’s bigger deadline goal is to add someone who remains under control beyond 2026. Ryan fits that description, since he’s controlled through the 2027 season.
But that’s where things get complicated.
The Cubs may not value that extra year the same way the Twins do, because baseball appears headed toward a work stoppage before the 2027 season. If that season isn’t wiped out entirely, a significant chunk of it could be lost. That means Chicago may not be buying “two months plus another full season” of Ryan in any practical sense.
And that reality could warp the market. Minnesota will likely sell the value of Ryan’s control as if all of 2027 counts. The Cubs, or any other interested team, will probably see it through the lens of the CBA situation instead.
That gap could make it hard to find common ground before the deadline. Ryan checks the box for what the Cubs need, but the thing standing in the way may not be talent or fit. It may be timing.
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