This trade makes sense more now than ever for the New York Yankees.
Throughout the offseason, the New York Yankees had been in the hunt for another frontline starter. They didn't get one.
Yes, the Yankees landed Ryan Weathers in a trade with the Miami Marlins, but watched as more prominent targets like Freddy Peralta and MacKenzie Gore were traded elsewhere.
New York is still waiting for Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon to return from their respective surgeries, and both pitchers are expected back over the first couple of months or so of 2026. But given the fragility of starting pitching in today's game, adding another top-of-the-line arm couldn't hurt.
Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan was mentioned as a potential trade candidate over the winter, but the Twins opted to hold on to him. That now may have changed given the news that Pablo Lopez tore his UCL.
Now, it makes perfect sense for Minnesota to move Ryan sometime between now and the August trade deadline, because it's blatantly obvious the Twins won't be contending. So could the Yankees jump in?
Ryan would comprise an ideal target for New York right now given that he is making just $6.1 million this year and has $13 million mutual option for 2027 before hitting free agency. For a Yankees club that has been watching its payroll closely, Ryan would actually be an inexpensive addition given his talent level.
Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images.Of course, it would cost New York quite a bit in terms of prospects. The Yanks would almost certainly have to give up one of Carlos Lagrange or Elmer Rodriguez, and position players like Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. would probably be in play, as well.
However, with the Yankees needing to win a World Series as soon as possible given their aging core, it would make sense for them to move some of their top farmhands for someone who is going to help them win immediately.
Ryan logged a 3.42 ERA while allowing 138 hits and racking up 194 strikeouts over 171 innings of work in 2025, representing the best season of his career.
The 29-year-old owns a lifetime 3.79 ERA since entering the big leagues in 2021, so it's not like he has always been a No. 1. But the raw ability has always been evident, and he finally put it all together last year.
Minnesota would definitely have a host of potential suitors interested in Ryan, but New York could absolutely concoct one of the best trade packages given all of the impressive pitching it has in its system.
Look for the Yankees to make a push for Ryan over these next several months.
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