The Minnesota Twins have two of the most impactful arms in baseball.
The Minnesota Twins tore down much of their roster at the 2025 trade deadline, yet they held on to two of their most valuable assets: right-handed starters Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez. The question now is which of the two stands as the more valuable piece moving forward.
Joe Ryan Ryan joined the Twins in a trade with Tampa Bay that sent Nelson Cruz to the Rays in exchange for Ryan and fellow right-hander Drew Strotman. While Strotman is no longer with the organization, Ryan quickly proved to be the true prize of the deal, especially given Cruz’s struggles in Tampa Bay. Unlike many trades where the Rays have come out ahead, this one worked in Minnesota’s favor.
Ryan made his MLB debut in late 2021 and has steadily established himself as a rotation anchor. Now 29, he has appeared in 115 games, posting a 3.79 ERA with a 46–36 record and 719 strikeouts across 641 1/3 innings. In 2025, he took another step forward, earning his first All-Star selection. He also announced this offseason that he will represent Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Pablo Lopez Lopez’s path to Minnesota came via a blockbuster trade that sent Luis Arraez to Miami. While Arraez has not replicated his peak production since leaving, the Twins appear to have won the deal, as Lopez has delivered consistent value over the past three seasons.
The 29-year-old owns a 3.68 ERA, a 31–22 record and 505 strikeouts across 455 innings with Minnesota. Though injuries limited him in 2025, Lopez’s peak was on full display in 2023 when he finished seventh in American League Cy Young voting and earned an All-Star nod.
Together, Ryan and Lopez give the Twins a formidable one-two punch at the top of their rotation, and deciding which arm is more valuable may ultimately depend on health, durability and how the franchise chooses to build around them in the years ahead.
Why Joe Ryan Holds the Edge When weighing the two, Ryan’s durability gives him the edge. While Lopez has shown flashes of dominance, injuries have limited his availability, particularly in 2025. Ryan, meanwhile, has remained a steady presence in the rotation, logging over 600 innings across his career and earning his first All-Star nod last season. His ability to stay on the mound consistently, paired with improving results, makes him the more reliable option for a Twins team seeking stability at the top.