Twins Make Option Decision on All-Star Starter Before Arbitration

The Minnesota Twins declined their side of starting pitcher Joe Ryan's $13 million mutual option for 2027 on Friday, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic.

That does not send Ryan to free agency, since he still has one more year of arbitration before he can hit the open market after the 2027 season.

This move was expected, and it comes down to money.

Ryan and the Twins agreed to a one-year deal in January that paid him $6.1 million in 2026 and included the $13 million mutual option with a $100,000 buyout.

Ryan could earn $9.6 million through arbitration, so going that route would cost the Twins about $3.4 million less than the option while keeping the same pitcher for 2027.

The Twins also passed on a mutual option with designated hitter Josh Bell on the same day, and Bell elected free agency, while Ryan stays put.

Ryan looked like two different pitchers in 2026, as he posted a 2.85 ERA over 20 starts in the first half and earned his second straight All-Star selection.

After the break, his ERA jumped to 6.82 over seven starts, and he landed on the injured list in August with a left glute strain.

He finished the year 7-10 with a 3.79 ERA, 159 strikeouts and 31 walks over 144.2 innings in 27 starts.

He did end on a good note, throwing six innings with eight strikeouts in a 10-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Sept. 25, his first win since the All-Star break.

After that start, Ryan said he was glad to finish strong but still frustrated with how the second half went.

"Recognize the positives, but you can't just dwell on everything. At the same time, just wish I could have put it together a little bit more," Ryan told the Pioneer Press.

Ryan is heading into a big year, since a strong 2027 would set him up well for free agency, and there is a reason he will be pitching under higher stakes next season.

He showed in 2025 what he can do when healthy, going 13-10 with a 3.42 ERA and 194 strikeouts over 171 innings.

Whether he is still in Minnesota when next season starts is another matter.

MLB.com's Matthew Leach wrote that Ryan, starting pitcher Pablo López and two other starters are all set to reach free agency after 2027, and that the team is very likely to look at moving at least one of those veteran starters.

There is also a case that the Twins should avoid a long-term extension with Ryan, which would make him a natural trade candidate this winter.

I would keep him.

The Twins finished 77-85 and third in the American League Central, and they need more good starters, not fewer.

A healthy Ryan was an All-Star in the first half, and the arbitration price is fair for a pitcher who can do that.

Declining the option was the right call, but trading him would be a mistake unless the return is too good to pass up.