The Twins have a Joe Ryan decision looming, and it cuts right to the heart of what this deadline is really about: chasing the postseason now or cashing in on one of their most valuable chips for later.
On one hand, moving Ryan would be a brutal sell to a fan base that already lived through the 2025 fire sale. Attendance has bounced up some with the Twins still in the playoff hunt, but the caution is still there, and overall crowds are down from 2025.
If Minnesota does get into October, having a starter like Ryan lined up for a series would matter a lot. He’s the kind of arm that is tough to replace once the deadline passes, which is part of why the recent addition of AJ Minter suggests the Twins may be leaning toward buying rather than selling.
On the other hand, Ryan is exactly the sort of player that can bring back a huge return. He has a year and a half of club control left, which makes him far more than a rental.
For a pitcher of his caliber, that kind of control can translate into a major haul of prospects or impact talent. His second-half numbers have also been worse than his first-half production, and with a bit of injury history mixed in, this might be the point where Minnesota would get the most value for him.
There’s also the looming threat of a 2027 work stoppage, which could wipe away the trade value Ryan would otherwise carry.
That’s the tradeoff in a nutshell: immediate competitiveness versus long-term asset management.
The case for dealing Ryan starts with the return. A two-time All-Star under team control through the 2027 season gives the Twins leverage that most teams don’t get at the deadline. They would not be selling a pure rental; they’d be selling years of control, and that usually means a bigger package coming back.
There’s also the injury side of the equation. Pitching is volatile, and nobody knows that better than front offices. If Ryan is at or near peak value now, the Twins could protect themselves from the chance that a future injury or downturn drags down what they can get for him later.
And then there’s the roster math. Trading Ryan would ease the pressure of rising arbitration costs in 2027 and could help Minnesota fill multiple thinner spots instead of tying so much of the team’s value to one arm.
Still, the downside is obvious. Starting pitching like Ryan’s is hard to replace, and losing a proven ace would leave a major hole in the rotation. He’s the kind of arm that anchors a staff, and that doesn’t come around often.
There’s also the message it sends. Trading him could read like the Twins are stepping back from their current postseason push, or even signaling another stretch of rebuilding. That’s not a small thing in a clubhouse or with a fan base already sensitive to what happened in 2025.
And as always with prospect packages, nothing is guaranteed. Teams can dream on upside, but prospect returns can miss just as easily as they hit. Minnesota would be giving up a top-tier major league starter for players who still have to prove they can become anything close to that.
Even with all that, the expectation here is that the Twins keep Ryan. The blowback from trading him would be real, and it could linger into ticket sales beyond 2027. With Ryan, Taj Bradley and Bailey Ober, the Twins would have a rotation capable of being competitive in any series.
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Twins Deadline Focus Now Includes One Clear Outfield Need
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One name that has surfaced is a versatile Dodgers outfielder who can handle all three spots and has drawn attention for his work against left-handed pitching. He also comes with multiple years of arbitration control, which makes him the kind of fit front offices tend to circle at this time of year, even if the final asking price is still part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Paid A Price For Bullpen Help Fans Need To See
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The price was real, though, and it went beyond a simple cash consideration. Minnesota parted with Dasan Hill, John Klein, Dameury Pena and international cap space to get the deal done, a reminder that bullpen fixes often come with long-term costs attached. Hoffman is expected to be part of the picture through 2028, but the Twins gave up multiple pieces in a move that says plenty about how aggressive they plan to be in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Are Sending A Clear Deadline Message With This Pitching Move
The Twins made another pitching shuffle as the deadline and stretch run draw closer, activating right-hander Dean Kremer and optioning Jack Anderson to Triple-A St. Paul. It is the kind of move teams make when they want a little more stability on the mound without losing flexibility, especially with the season entering a more demanding phase and front offices weighing every roster spot.
Anderson has already bounced between the majors and minors several times this season, and this latest trip back to St. Paul is expected to be temporary. Still, the transaction says plenty about how Minnesota is approaching this moment: the Twins want pitching depth in place now, and they are keeping enough room open to adjust again as the trade deadline pressure builds. [Read more 🡒]