Twins urged to finally trade 2.99 ERA All-Star pitcher for Pablo Lopez reason
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Twins urged to finally trade 2.99 ERA All-Star pitcher for Pablo Lopez reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Minnesota Twins might be hovering around a postseason spot this season, but it's still more likely than not that they will act as sellers, given their current standing and conventional wisdom.
But, even at last year's trade deadline, they didn't sell everyone who could be on the move. Byron Buxton stayed in Minnesota, and they also held onto one starting pitcher, All-Star ace Joe Ryan, through the deadline.
This season, however, MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan is urging the Twins to finally trade Ryan amid a 2.99 ERA season, thanks in part to the injury to Pablo Lopez.
Twins urged to trade Joe Ryan after Pablo Lopez's injury
"After losing Lopez to UCL repair surgery, the Twins shouldn't wait any longer to flip Ryan," Harrigan writes. "He's going to be a free agent after 2027, and the Twins are unlikely to contend before then."
While it would be ideal for the Twins to be fully healthy and act as a Wild Card team this season in a weak AL field, it's just not the best course of action for the future of this team.
The Twins aren't fully healthy, their roster isn't in the best shape, and they are fringe Wild Card contenders at best this season. Next year will likely be more of the same as well.
With a seller's market, especially for starting pitchers who are under club control beyond the 2026 season, someone like Ryan should be traded this summer.
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This might be the last time the Twins will be able to get a great haul for Ryan, as he's looked good this season with his 2.99 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 16 starts.
With the Lopez injury, the Twins aren't going to be at full strength in 2026, and very likely won't be contenders next season.
Waiting until the offseason or next year's deadline to trade Ryan would be a mistake. The 2026 MLB trade deadline is when the Twins should part with the All-Star righty, as this will be their last chance to get the best return possible.
Harrigan is urging the Twins to trade Ryan, thanks in part to Lopez's injury. This is the best chance for the Twins to get the best return possible for Ryan, even though it might be a tough sell for the fan base that's seen many players dealt in the last year.
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