Why Joe Ryan Will Be Pitching Under Higher Stakes In 2027

As the Minnesota Twins head into the offseason, there is a decision to be made on starting pitcher Joe Ryan, the team’s longtime ace, who heads into a contract year in 2027.

Ryan earned $6.1 million in arbitration in 2026, and is more than likely to see a significant pay boost in his last year of arbitration in 2027. MLB Trade Rumors currently projects Ryan to earn $9.6 million in the final year of his contract.

However, the upcoming offseason presents an interesting time for Ryan. While he has continued to give the Twins a solid season year after year, the potential opportunity to trade the starter looms. It would not be a surprise if Minnesota were to navigate the market over the offseason and at the trade deadline if the Twins are trending towards not contending late in the season.

However, after Ryan’s complicated 2026 season, many things are uncertain for the right-hander as he heads into a crucial season. One of those concerns is Ryan’s consistency down the stretch of a season, as the right-hander has carried a tendency to struggle at times in the second half of the year.

In 2026, it was notably a heavy concern. After a very strong first half that earned Ryan his second career All-Star selection, Ryan dropped off heavily in the second half.

In his first start just after the All-Star break, Ryan allowed a career-high six home runs in an uneasy outing against the Cleveland Guardians. In his two starts that would follow, Ryan allowed four earned runs in each outing, just before landing on the injured list for a month with a left glute strain.

Ryan would make four more starts in September, but still he didn’t look like the sharper version of himself. In seven total starts in the second half in 2026, Ryan posted a 6.82 ERA in 34 ⅓ innings pitched, allowing a total of 26 earned runs.

The 30-year-old’s late-season struggles have been a consistent trend in his career, as he has posted an ERA over four in all but one season in the second half of his career. Each year, he has posted significantly better numbers in the season’s first half.

Nonetheless, Ryan’s concerning finish to the 2026 season left a lot of room for thought for the Twins organization. In some way, Ryan is sort of an X-factor for the Twins to contend, as Minnesota enters next season with a stronger overall shaping in the rotation. However, there is no doubt that his name will definitely hover in trade rumors over the next year.