As the Minnesota Twins tore down their roster at the trade deadline, rumors about Joe Ryan’s future were flying fast. Amid trading away 10 players from their major-league roster, the Twins’ decision to hold on to their All-Star right-hander was one of the biggest surprises of the summer. At one point, a false report even circulated on social media claiming that Ryan had been traded to the Boston Red Sox, briefly sending Twins Territory into an even greater frenzy.
Ryan was the most notable name that the team held onto during the fire sale. His contract control and consistent performance made him valuable both on the mound and in trade talks. Given his talent and affordable salary, it should be expected that Ryan will once again be pursued by numerous teams this winter.
Ryan’s Breakout 2025 Season
Ryan rewarded Minnesota’s faith in him with the best season of his career in 2025. The 29-year-old righty earned his first All-Star selection, posting a 3.42 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in 171 innings. His command and ability to miss bats were among the best in the American League, and his reliability helped stabilize an otherwise patchwork rotation.
With MLB Trade Rumors projecting his 2026 salary at $5.8 million during a second trip through arbitration, Ryan remains an incredible value. The Twins also have team control through the 2027 season, meaning any acquiring team would be landing a front-line starter for multiple years at a below-market rate. That kind of control makes Ryan an especially appealing trade chip for a club looking to restock its farm system while staying competitive in the long term.
The Mets Have the Assets and Motivation
Danny Abriano of SNY recently identified Ryan as a potential target for the New York Mets, noting that “the Twins can definitely get a haul for Ryan this offseason, and it would behoove them to cash in as they embark on some form of a rebuild.” The Mets, who finished the 2025 season short of expectations, are once again positioned to be aggressive this winter.
Ryan’s relatively low salary and remaining years of control make him a perfect fit for a club with New York’s financial flexibility. His projected 2026 salary is a negligible amount for a team operating in the upper echelon of payrolls.
Ryan himself seems unfazed by the idea of being traded. Speaking at the All-Star Game in Atlanta, he said, “It’s fun for me. July is awesome. I think everyone in the clubhouse gets excited just seeing where guys are going to go around the league. You don’t know, and I think that’s exciting—and being someone that could get traded, it would be exciting. I mean, I do love Minnesota, and I love where I’m at, so it would be sad—definitely hard to go. But at the end of the day, it’s never up to me.”
If the Twins do decide to move him, the Mets appear to be one of the few teams who could offer the type of prospect package Minnesota would require. According to midseason farm rankings, New York’s system currently ranks seventh in baseball, with multiple blue-chip players nearing the majors. Industry consensus has them rising even higher than that heading into the winter.
Potential Mets Trade Targets
Here’s a look at the top five prospects in the Mets organization, according to MLB Pipeline. Like the Jhoan Duran trade, it will likely take multiple top-100-caliber prospects to acquire Ryan. New York currently has four prospects who rank in MLB’s top-50.
- RHP Nolan McLean (MLB #11): A dynamic two-way player in college, McLean has since focused on pitching and quickly climbed through the Mets’ system. His fastball touches the upper 90s, and his slider projects as a true out pitch. This season, he made his MLB debut and posted a 2.06 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and a 30.3% strikeout rate in 48 innings. He profiles as a playoff-caliber starter, if his command continues to improve.
- OF Carson Benge (MLB #21): A left-handed hitter with advanced plate discipline, Benge has impressed scouts with his ability to drive the ball to all fields. In 2025, he ascended from High-A to Triple-A, while posting a .281/.385/.472 line. His combination of on-base ability and athleticism gives him the ceiling of a high-end everyday corner outfielder.
- INF Jett Williams (MLB #30): Known for his elite bat-to-ball skills and defensive versatility, Williams has already played shortstop, second base, and center field in the minors. His speed and contact-oriented approach could make him a top-of-the-order spark plug at the big-league level. He split time between Double- and Triple-A last season and hit .261/.363/.465, with 34 steals.
- RHP Jonah Tong (MLB #46): One of the biggest risers in the Mets system, Tong’s strikeout numbers have been electric thanks to a fastball-changeup combo that misses bats at a high rate. He dominated the upper minors last season with a 1.43 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 113 2/3 innings. He’s still refining the rest of his arsenal (his curveball might not turn out to be usable in the big leagues; his cutter and slider are works in progress), but he could contribute to a major-league rotation in 2026. Like McLean, he’s already made his big-league debut.
- RHP Brandon Sproat: Though not currently on the top 100 list, Sproat has drawn praise for his durability and competitive edge. This season, he made 26 appearances at Triple-A and posted a 4.24 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP, then earned a four-start audition with the spiraling big-league squad to close the campaign. His six-pitch mix gives him mid-rotation upside, and he could reach that as soon as next season.
The Twins have a valuable trade chip in Ryan, and the Mets have the farm system to make a deal happen. Minnesota may not be eager to part with its All-Star right-hander, but the opportunity to restock the organization with multiple top prospects could prove too enticing to ignore. With both teams aiming to reshape their futures, a Ryan trade between the Twins and Mets might be one of the most logical moves of the winter.
