Joe Ryan Will Be the Top Trade Chip on the Market
Joe Ryan's affordable contract, team control, and production make him one of the top names at the upcoming trade deadline.
As the 2026 MLB season progresses and the All-Star break approaches, rumors have already begun to swirl regarding the trade market. Many teams will be in need of pitching and there are some big names that could potentially become available before the deadline.
This summer, no pitcher may generate more interest than Joe Ryan.
The Minnesota Twins right-hander has developed into one of the most effective starters in baseball. He combines swing-and-miss stuff with elite command and has become extremely consistent. At 30 years old and under team control through 2027, he offers both immediate impact and long-term value.
While there will inevitably be speculation around bigger names, the likelihood, control, and price of the Twins’ ace thrust him to the top of the trade market. Minnesota will likely once again listen to offers, and every contender in search of rotational help should pick up the phone.
Joe Ryan is one of the best arms in the game, and will be a top name on the market in the coming months.
All stats updated prior to games on Friday, June 26
One of Baseball’s Most Underrated Aces
After establishing himself as a solid starter in his first few seasons, Joe Ryan has accelerated into a frontline arm. He posted a 3.60 and 3.42 ERA in 2024 and 2025 respectively, while generating 3.1 fWAR in each.
This season, his ERA stands at 3.18 and he’s on pace to log 184 innings with a career high 5.4 fWAR. He’s clearly doing a lot of things right.
Ryan’s 23.5% K-BB% ranks sixth in MLB among qualified pitchers. This stat perfectly displays both his stuff and ability to command it. The only five players ahead of him on this list have either won a Cy Young or are top two in betting odds to win it this season according to BetMGM.
Though he has been susceptible to hard contact this season, damage has still been kept in check. His 0.87 HR/9 and .347 opponent slugging percentage illustrate his ability to keep costly mistakes to a minimum.
To go with good production and solid underlying numbers, Ryan has a 2.81 FIP this season which is good for sixth lowest in MLB. Teams who are evaluating his performance will not have to worry about him potentially regressing from his current level.
Inside His Dominance on the Mound
The attributes that carry Joe Ryan’s game are not difficult to find. He pairs a six-pitch arsenal with filthy stuff, and top-of-the-line command, keeping hitters constantly guessing.
Beginning with his four-seam fastball, it performs well despite sitting in the low-90s and not being an outlier movement wise, hitters are whiffing 25.9% of the time against it. Why is this? He throws from a low arm slot, gets 90th percentile extension, and has a low vertical approach angle. This means the pitch path is extremely flat and hard to get on top of when it’s up in the zone.
This allows him to live in the upper third of the strike zone and dominate it with the four-seamer. On four-seamers in the upper third or higher, opponents are batting just .205 with a 32.3% whiff rate.
To go with this, Ryan has a splitter and three different breaking pitches. Hitters also struggle mightily with these, whiffing 28.9% of the time, running a 34.3% hard-hit rate, and batting just .186.
As if the stuff alone wasn’t impressive enough, he possesses some of the best command in the game, walking 5% of batters and living on the edges of the zone.
Value Outside of Performance
Performance alone would make Ryan one of the most coveted pitchers on the market. Pair that with his contract situation, and his value only increases.
Unlike many deadline rentals, Ryan comes with an extra season of control, under contract through 2027. Acquiring him allows for both a push to contend in 2026, as well as bolstering the rotation heading into next year. It’s an opportunity to secure a frontline arm for potentially multiple playoff runs.
The money he is owed makes him even more appealing. Ryan is earning $6.1 million this year and is set to come in around $13 million in the following season.
Those factors greatly increase his trade value. He produces like an ace, has an extra season of team control, and is being paid well below market value. Very few players combine this with the performance that he does, making him arguably the most valuable trade piece heading into this year’s deadline.
If the Twins ultimately decide to move Ryan, the asking price would be understandably high. A return would likely be headlined by multiple top prospects or young, controllable major-league talent.
Will Minnesota Actually Trade Him?
The Twins have listened to offers on Ryan in recent years, meaning they are at the very least open to the idea of moving him. It could make sense for them being six games below .500 and potentially missing the playoffs for the third straight season.
Ryan would demand a large haul of young talent, opening the door for Minnesota to stock up and set their sights on the future.
However, with them just 4.5 games back in their division and 1.5 games in the American League Wild Card, them actually selling remains in question.
The next few weeks will be very important as to whether or not they end up sellers at the deadline. If they get hot, there’s a real chance for them to buy. If they get cold, it could be a fire sale out of Minnesota.
With Ryan’s trade value at an all-time high, every contending team should make that call regardless of the Twins’ upcoming performance.
Whether the Twins ultimately decide to move him remains to be seen. But if Joe Ryan is truly available, he won’t just be one of the biggest names on the market, he’ll likely be the most coveted pitching target among contending teams.
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Written by
Carson Wolf is an intern at Just Baseball covering the Chicago Cubs and is the creator of The Wrigley Wire on X. He is currently studying…