Could Joe Ryan Be a Fit for the Giants? A Potential Opening Emerges Amid Arbitration Tension
Just when it looked like Minnesota’s ace Joe Ryan was off-limits this offseason, a ripple in the usual winter calm has stirred up some intrigue - and the San Francisco Giants might want to keep a close eye on it.
Ryan, a Bay Area native and the top arm in the Twins’ rotation, reportedly won’t be attending TwinsFest, the team’s annual fan event. Now, skipping a fan fest doesn’t automatically mean trouble - players miss these things for all kinds of reasons.
But the timing raises eyebrows. It comes right on the heels of Ryan and the Twins failing to agree on a one-year deal, setting the stage for an arbitration hearing to determine his 2026 salary.
The gap? Just $500,000.
Ryan filed at $6.35 million, while the Twins countered at $5.85 million. On paper, that’s not a massive difference - especially for a pitcher coming off his best season yet.
Ryan posted a 13-10 record, a 3.42 ERA, and logged 171 innings over 31 appearances. He was steady, durable, and flat-out effective, earning All-Star recognition along the way.
In today’s market, that kind of production is worth every penny - and then some.
So why the arbitration showdown? That’s the question teams across the league are asking.
The Twins, for their part, have made it clear they plan to compete in 2026 and weren’t looking to move key pieces despite earlier reports about potential payroll cuts. But when a situation gets even a little bit tense - especially with a front-line starter - the trade market tends to perk up.
And that’s where the Giants come in.
San Francisco has been in the market for rotation help this offseason, and Ryan would be a significant upgrade. He’s not just a high-end arm - he’s a local product, which could help with long-term retention if the Giants were to swing a deal and look to extend him.
Of course, prying Ryan away from Minnesota wouldn’t be cheap. It would likely take a premium package to even get the Twins to pick up the phone.
That could mean parting with a top prospect like outfielder Josuar Gonzalez, who’s shown real upside in the minors. Add in a young arm like Landen Roupp, who’s been knocking on the door of the big league rotation, and you’re starting to build a framework.
The Twins might also want a more established big leaguer - someone like Heliot Ramos - to balance out the deal with a player who can contribute right away.
It’s a steep price, no doubt. But for the Giants, the calculus is simple: elite pitching wins games, and Ryan fits the mold of a playoff-caliber starter. If there’s even a small crack in Minnesota’s resolve to keep him - whether it’s arbitration tension or something deeper - San Francisco has to at least explore the opportunity.
Right now, this is more of a door slightly ajar than one swinging wide open. But in an offseason where rotation upgrades are hard to come by, the Giants may not get many chances like this. If they’re serious about contending in 2026, it might be time to make a bold move.