Joe Ryan and the Minnesota Twins are 26-28 and in third place in the American League Central going into their Tuesday matchup against the Chicago White Sox. Despite holding the third AL wild card spot, many believe the Twins will be sellers at the trade deadline.
One of Minnesota's most valuable trade pieces is Ryan. ESPN's Buster Olney reports that some rival executives believe it would be "smart" for the team to move on from the 2025 All-Star, who could be "one of the most sought-after starting pitchers in the trade market."
This season, he has been productive. In 11 starts, he has tossed 56.2 innings, allowing 19 earned runs, 41 hits and three home runs. Posting a 3.02 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 61 strikeouts, he is proving to be one of MLB's most effective pitchers.
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Beginning his career as a seventh-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays, he was traded to the Twins before the 2021 MLB deadline. He made his MLB debut that season and is playing his sixth season in Minnesota. With the chance to be traded again, Ryan spoke with Rob Bradford of "Baseball Isn't Boring" and explained how he handles the uncertainty.
“You look back, and I think you just remind yourself every time, anything there’s like that, the distractions there are away from the actual game, this is what I’ve always dreamed of doing, is playing in the big league," Ryan said. "I get to do this, this is an honor, so like I’m not going to feel bad or down for myself if anything. Like, I’m here to play baseball, and I get to put on a big league uniform. I’m grateful for that every day that I get to do that, and I want to be the best version of myself.”
Whether the Twins ultimately buy, sell, or stay put, Ryan's production makes him an intriguing option for teams in need of rotation help. With the deadline set for Aug. 3, the 29-year-old is focused on keeping his attention on what he can control.
