Baltimore Orioles Could Acquire 2-Time All-Star in Trade With AL Central Team

The Baltimore Orioles need starting pitching. That is not a new problem, but it is an urgent one heading into 2027 after a 79-82 season that ended 18.5 games behind the division-winning Tampa Bay Rays.

One option that the Orioles should consider is a trade for Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan. Ryan is a two-time All-Star who is under team control for one more season and represents exactly the kind of established arm Baltimore has been searching for.

There is no confirmed offer from the Orioles, and any connection at this point is speculative.

Ryan finished 2026 with a 7-10 record and a 3.79 ERA across 27 starts. He logged 144 2/3 innings, struck out 159 batters and posted a 1.16 WHIP. His 3.70 FIP suggests the results were in line with his underlying performance.

He missed time after landing on the injured list Aug. 7 with a strained left glute, returned after a rehab start at Triple-A St. Paul and was back on the mound by Sept. 7.

The injury was a setback, but it did not alter the bigger picture of what Ryan is. Over the past two seasons, he has one of the best strikeout-to-walk percentages in MLB.

The question is whether Minnesota moves him. The Twins finished 77-85, third in the AL Central. Missing the playoffs for another year creates pressure to either retool or reload.

Ryan is the easiest asset on the roster to move and he would bring back a nice haul of young talent. A nine-figure extension for Ryan may not fit what Minnesota is willing to do, and if that is the case, dealing him makes sense regardless of if they are trying to compete.

Starting pitching is a priority for the Orioles front office this offseason. The rotation as currently constructed is not good enough to compete in the AL East. Ryan would slot in immediately as one of the best starters on the staff, next to Kyle Bradish and Shane Baz.

The price will be steep. The Orioles may have to move on from a young, unproven player to get Ryan to Camden Yards. Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo could headline a package for Ryan.

No deal is imminent, and no deal may happen at all. But Ryan checks every box the Orioles are looking for this offseason. If the Twins are still listening, Baltimore should be one of the first teams on the phone.