Details Behind Red Sox’ Failed Attempt to Pry Joe Ryan from MN Twins

A Joe Ryan trade for the Minnesota Twins always seemed unlikely. He is having the best season of his career and sits among the top two arms in the rotation, even when it’s at full health.

That said, Ryan made it known during All-Star Game festivities down in Georgia that having his name floating around the MLB trade deadline rumor mill was “exciting.” and that he’d welcome being dealt to a contending team like the Boston Red Sox, who made their desires for Ryan obvious long before and right up to Thursday’s final bell.

But even as they tore the 26-man roster to pieces over the past week, the Minnesota Twins’ ask for Joe Ryan remained incredibly high. Conversations lasted up to the final minutes before the July 31 deadline, but Friday, the 2025 All-Star pitcher will take the mound in Cleveland wearing the same Twins uniform he has his entire big league career, after the Red Sox couldn’t pry him out of MN.

Their failure to strike a deal, however, wasn’t from a lack of trying, on the side of Boston and their general manager (former Twins pitcher) Craig Breslow. Reports that dropped late Thursday, after the deadline passed, reveal exactly what the Red Sox had on the table for Joe Ryan.

Red Sox offered top prospect to MN Twins for Joe Ryan

For the Twins to trade Joe Ryan, they were going to need to be blown away. He’s making just $3 million this season and is under contract through 2027 and he’s one of the best pitchers in the American League.

The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey is reporting that Boston offered the best outfield prospect in their “highly-regarded farm system”, Jhostynxon Garcia, and that still wasn’t enough to get a deal done.

Jhostynxon Garcia, the Red Sox’s top outfield prospect, was in the mix to be in the deal. But despite a highly-regarded farm system, sources said that the rest of the haul offered by Boston was not substantial enough to land Ryan, owner of a 2.82 ERA whose value is enhanced by being under team control through 2027.

Jen McCaffrey – The Athletic

Related: Minnesota Twins Draw Rave Reviews for Duran Deal

Jhonstnyxon Garcia is currently the Boston Red Sox second best prospect, but he’s just 88th overall on the MLB Pipeline top 100. Franklin Arias, a 19-year-old infielder at High-A is above him. The Twins were right to balk at both.

Boston recently graduated both Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer from prospect status. The former was previously the top prospect in baseball, and Mayer flirted with that designation as well. Mayer is hurt and may not have been on Minnesota’s shortlist, but either of those two players needed to be the ask.

Red Sox unwilling to pay full toll to MN Twins for Ryan

The Red Sox are 59-51, third in the AL East, and five games back of the Toronto Blue Jays. Although they did trade for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May, Ryan would have easily been the boost to the rotation that they needed.

Instead, Steven Matz came over from the St. Louis Cardinals, but without Ryan, the Red Sox are left hoping that more marginal moves will be enough. Derek Falvey stared at a top 100 prospect return, but wisely backed off when Boston refused to put anyone else in the deal.

The Red Sox, understandably, were not going to trade Roman Anthony. But a more aggressive approach would have dictated that virtually every player should have been available. Judging by the returns, that likely wasn’t the case.

San Diego hotly pursued Jarren Duran, and while the Padres may not have had a starter who matched Duran’s worth, the Twins did. If the Twins wanted Duran or Wilyer Abreu, it would have certainly hurt the club, but adding Ryan would have given that much more of a boost. The best trades are not painless.

Jen McCaffrey – The Athletic

Reliever Jhoan Duran netted the Twins a better return in Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait. With starting pitching always commanding a premium, there would have never been a reason to do the deal for less.

Joe Ryan not out of the woods for MN Twins

After a deadline day that included an insane amount of activity, it’s hard to fathom the Minnesota Twins won’t continue to be active this offseason. Derek Falvey may not be the one in charge, but it makes sense to finish what was started.

Ryan is 29 years old and will be a free agent in 2028. Pablo Lopez is also 29 years old and will be a free agent at the same time. Minnesota could dominate the offseason trade market by making both of their star starters available.

Joe Ryan's Ungodly Sweeper with 30 inches of Horizontal Break…with Tail. 😳 pic.twitter.com/rBCq28amFt

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 27, 2025

They have already listened on Ryan, and indicated a willingness to on Lopez. With multiple young arms returning in deals, the next wave for the Minnesota rotation may be the one that a new ownership group needs to usher in.

Related: Minnesota Twins Trade Two Relievers at Last Minute

If the Pohlad’s are still in charge over the winter you can almost guarantee both Ryan and Lopez will be elsewhere next year. Even if they aren’t, the changes already made may be enough to keep the ball rolling.