Minnesota Twins v Tampa Bay Rays
Flash back to the 2025 trade deadline: Red Sox faithful were on the edge of their seats, certain that Ryan would swoop in to bolster their playoff push. A handful of overeager outlets even jumped the gun, prematurely announcing the trade on social media and whipping Boston into a total frenzy. But the deal never materialized, and once the offseason hit, the Twins slammed the door shut, insisting they had zero intention of moving Ryan or their ace Pablo López.
Undeterred, the Red Sox pivoted masterfully, snagging Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo to fortify their starting rotation. They then chased after star third baseman Alex Bregman, only to watch him ink a deal with the Chicago Cubs. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, ever the strategist, didn’t close the book on adding more arms. His philosophy? A lockdown rotation means fewer runs allowed, which could make up for any offensive dips. And now, with this eyebrow-raising Joe Ryan update from The Athletic’s Twins reporter Aaron Gleeman, Breslow’s words feel like a prophecy.
Joe Ryan is not expected to attend TwinsFest, per a team source.
Ryan has been removed from the lineup of Twins players scheduled to make an appearance.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) January 13, 2026
According to a team source, Ryan is no longer expected to grace TwinsFest with his presence. He was originally on the guest list, but poof—he’s gone. Sure, there could be innocent explanations: Ryan and his partner welcomed a baby in November, or maybe a family commitment popped up. Then there’s the sticky arbitration situation—the two sides are $500,000 apart in their filings, potentially leading to a contentious hearing and some temporary bad vibes. But let’s be real: for Red Sox fans, the juiciest theory is that a trade is brewing, and Ryan’s about to don the crimson socks!
Imagine Ryan slotting into Boston’s rotation alongside Garrett Crochet, Gray, and Oviedo—what a powerhouse quartet that would be! The 2025 All-Star dazzled with a sparkling 3.42 ERA, a razor-sharp 1.035 WHIP, an impressive 4.97 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 194 punchouts across 171 innings. He’s got the stuff to elevate the Sox from contenders to champions.
Of course, prying Ryan away won’t be a walk in the park. With two years of team control left, the Twins hold all the leverage. Boston’s already dipped into their prospect pool, shipping out top outfield talent Jhostynxon Garcia in earlier deals, and preserving the farm system might favor a free-agent splash instead. But if the Red Sox can lock Ryan down with an extension—like they did with Crochet—the gamble could pay off big time.
Officially, nothing’s shifted on Ryan’s trade status, and cooler heads should prevail: assume he’s staying put in Minnesota. Yet, Breslow’s track record shows deals can drop out of nowhere, with minimal leaks or hype. This “strange update” has fans dreaming big, celebrating early, and refreshing their feeds for that bombshell confirmation. Is Joe Ryan Boston-bound? Stay tuned—Sox fans, your wildest wishes might just come true!
