Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
At this point of the offseason narratives around the Minnesota Twins have focused more on who they will lose than who they will gain. Joe Ryan was almost traded over the summer, and Byron Buxton is willing to waive his no trade clause.
The Pohlads are down so bad they’ll shed anywhere to save a buck, and that could mean Ryan deal gets over the finish line. It was the Boston Red Sox that came calling at the deadline, but it’s the New York Mets that have intrigue now.
New York Mets coming for Joe Ryan
If there’s a team that couldn’t be owned by someone more different than the Pohlads, it’s the New York Mets and Steve Cohen. The NL East superteam has endless amounts of money, and acquiring Joe Ryan would cost them nothing financially. Jon Heyman has now reported they have interest.
The Mets may try to fill their rotation needs via trade, and they are stocked with outstanding prospects. Joe Ryan is among starters of interest to the Mets. The Twins are believed to like Jonah Tong.
It’s not shocking that the Mets would have interest in Joe Ryan. Heck, the MN Twins should have interest in Joe Ryan. Unfortunately his modest salary jump is something they don’t believe they can afford.
Ryan is projected to get something just shy of $6 million for 2026, and that would make him vastly undervalued. His 3.1 fWAR was worth $25 million last season. In fact, he has never provided value less than $17.3 million during a full year.
In 31 games for the Twins last year, Ryan owned a 3.42 ERA (3.74 FIP) and made his first All-Star Game. He was much more dominant midway, and tailed off down the stretch after the failed trade.
Ryan is just 29 years old and has a relative clean injury history. This is the type of pitcher a serious franchise would build around. Not set to hit free agency for two more years, it doesn’t look like that will be the choice.
Joe Ryan could land MN Twins a haul
Although he will be 30 in 2026, Ryan still should have no problem being looked at as a sizable asset. He carries two years of team control, and even another arbitration eligible raise should keep him below $15 million in 2026.
The New York Mets have a plethora of prospects that could interest the Twins. Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong are all pitchers ready for the big leagues. Both Carson Benge and Jett Williams could factor in as position player adds.
Jonah Tong’s 7th and 8th Ks. pic.twitter.com/wW0KqTYA5P
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 18, 2025
Minnesota absolutely must capitalize on whatever return they receive for Ryan if he is moved. While both Pablo Lopez and Byron Buxton have significant trade value as well, they have hefty contracts that start to minimize the return a bit.
It will be difficult to see the Twins go down this path, but it’s how we have seen the Pohlads trending from an operations standpoint for some time now.
Mentioned in this article: Joe Ryan
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