Joe Ryan
Age on Opening Day 2026: 29
Service Time: 4 years, 93 days
2023 Salary: $730,250
2024 Salary: $758,850
2025 Salary: $3.0 Million
MLB Trade Rumors Projection for 2026: $5.8 million
2025 Season
Ryan began his fourth full season with the Twins effectively, posting strong early stretches as the Twins leaned on him heavily amid rotation injuries and uncertainty. Though it wasn’t the case on Opening Day, by mid-June, Ryan was clearly the ace of the staff. By midseason, he had posted one of the more impressive first-half ERAs in franchise history: 2.72 over 109 ⅓ innings, the best first-half mark by a Twins starter since Johan Santana in 2007.
He was also the only starter who missed no time due to injury, illness or mishap. After the fire sale at the trade deadline in late July, Ryan did scuffle for the final two months of the campaign, perhaps frustrated with the direction of the franchise and perhaps shaken by a misgiven rumor that he himself would be traded just before the deadline. Nonetheless, he finished with the best numbers on the team and the best of his career.
He delivered several standout performances throughout the season. He spun seven scoreless innings twice in April; had the capstone pitching performance of the team’s terrific win streak on a Friday night in Milwaukee in May; overwhelmed the surging Mariners over six scoreless frames in late June; outdueled Paul Skenes at Target Field just before the All-Star break; pitched angry for 6 2/3 frames to dominate the Yankees in the Bronx; and shut down the playoff-bound Padres at the end of August. Twice, he hit 11 strikeouts, one shy of his career high set in 2024.
2025 Stats: 31 G, 30 GS, 171 IP, 138 H, 39 BB, 194 K, 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP
Twins Depth at his Position (Starting Pitchers):
Big-League Vets: Mick Abel, Taj Bradley, David Festa, Pablo López, Zebby Matthews, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson
Triple-A: John Klein, Cory Lewis, Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, Marco Raya, Kendry Rojas
Double-A: Sam Armstrong, Darren Bowen, Ricky Castro, C.J. Culpepper, Ryan Gallagher, Christian MacLeod
Why the Twins Should Offer Him Arbitration:
Dollar for dollar and inning for inning, he is the best pitcher the Twins have. He shouldered a heavier load when others were hurt or inconsistent. One of the hardest things about baseball is the mental game, and Ryan does a great job of keeping his intensity even under strain. He is the most durable pitcher on the roster, stabilizing Minnesota’s rotation when they needed it most. Like Byron Buxton, the value that Ryan brings to the team is worth more than twice what he’ll actually be paid in 2026.
Why the Twins Should Non-Tender Him
There is no logical reason to non-tender Joe Ryan, and under no circumstances would the team do so. The only way Ryan won’t be back next season is if he’s traded—which, alas, is certainly possible, as the team faces the specter of a very limited payroll.
Projection
The Twins will keep Ryan. The duo of Ryan and López have been a great asset to the team, and the team should do their best to settle and avoid a hearing with him. He’s the kind of pitcher who quietly dominates. He is the “Joe Ryan Experience”: precision, confidence, a relentless drive to compete, and the hair of a god. In 2025, he showed exactly what he’s capable of when everything is working. He was one of the most consistent arms in the rotation and stepped up when the team needed it most.
Ryan has such a great feel for the strike zone. He commands his fastball with confidence and keeps hitters guessing with his off-speed stuff. He’s aggressive, smart, and knows how to finish at-bats. What stood out this season was his ability to stay locked in deep into games and keep the momentum on his side.
Will the Twins keep Ryan, or trade him? How much can he make in arbitration, before his earning power becomes a problem for the club? Is there any chance of a long-term deal? Join the discussion below.