As the July 31, 2025 MLB trade deadline approaches, the Boston Red Sox find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. With their sights set on making a serious postseason push, the team is keenly aware that shoring up their starting rotation is essential. Among the names circulating in trade rumors, Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan stands out as a prime candidate to bolster Boston’s pitching staff.
Ryan, 29, has enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, emerging as one of the American League’s most dominant starters. Over 18 appearances, he boasts a sterling 2.76 ERA, an impressive 0.891 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts against just 21 walks across 104.1 innings pitched. His 8-4 record and 3.9 WAR underscore his value, while his career-high 152 ERA+ signals a pitcher firing on all cylinders. Despite these numbers, Ryan was surprisingly snubbed in the first round of AL All-Star selections, though recent schedule shifts suggest he may still earn a late invite.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network has been closely tracking Ryan’s trade potential, noting that the Red Sox are among several teams monitoring the Twins right-hander. “The man that the Red Sox and a number of teams in the Major Leagues are monitoring at least right now, Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins. Ryan has been excellent so far this season. … I think he’s one of the best starting pitchers in the American League and he’s only getting better,” Morosi said during an MLB Central segment on July 9.
Boston’s rotation has shown flashes of promise this season, with Garrett Crochet leading the way as a budding ace. Lucas Giolito has been exceptional recently, posting a 0.83 ERA over his last five starts, and Brayan Bello has maintained a solid 2.83 ERA in his last nine outings. However, inconsistencies remain, highlighted by Walker Buehler’s struggles in his last four starts and the season-ending wrist surgery suffered by Kutter Crawford, who has yet to pitch in 2025. These factors amplify the urgency for Boston to add a dependable No. 2 starter to complement Crochet.
Joe Ryan fits that bill perfectly. Beyond his current performance, he is under team control through the 2027 season, offering the Red Sox a rare chance to secure a high-caliber starter on a favorable contract for multiple years. This aligns with Boston’s apparent strategy of targeting players who can contribute long-term, especially after their surprising trade of Rafael Devers earlier this year.
Yet, acquiring Ryan will not come cheap. The Twins, currently sitting with a 44-47 record, remain on the playoff bubble but could become sellers if their postseason hopes fade. Morosi outlined two critical conditions for a Ryan trade: Minnesota must be out of the postseason race, and the offer must be overwhelming. “For the Twins to move him, they will need to be (a) out of the AL postseason picture and (b) completely overwhelmed by an offer,” Morosi explained.
Speculation has swirled around potential trade pieces from Boston, with outfielder Jarren Duran frequently mentioned. Duran, 29, was an All-Star in 2024 and is known for his durability and consistency, having led the American League in plate appearances in both 2024 and 2025. This season, he has played in 92 of Boston’s 93 games, primarily as the leadoff hitter. Despite a slight dip in production this year, Duran’s .259/.315/.427 slash line and 104 OPS+ still reflect a solid contributor.
Morosi commented on Duran’s potential fit with the Twins: “Jarren Duran posts. And not to necessarily say that this would be the deal, Ryan for Duran, but the Twins [are] a team that has needed guys that post consistently. Duran would fit very nicely for the long term in a lineup like what the Twins have.” Minnesota’s outfield features Byron Buxton, Harrison Bader, Trevor Larnach, and Matt Wallner, with prospects Emmanuel Rodriguez and Walker Jenkins also on the horizon. Given injury histories and depth concerns, adding a dependable player like Duran could appeal to the Twins.
Still, the reality of the trade market suggests Boston will need to offer more than just Duran to land Ryan. Analysts and fans alike anticipate that the Twins will demand a substantial prospect package, possibly including rising stars like Franklin Arias or others from Boston’s deep farm system. As one fan noted, a realistic trade package might involve multiple prospects alongside Duran, underscoring the high cost of acquiring an ace-caliber pitcher under team control for two and a half more years.
Adding to the complexity, the Red Sox have a crowded outfield, featuring Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Masataka Yoshida, which makes Duran potentially expendable. Duran himself has expressed trust in manager Alex Cora’s handling of the team’s roster decisions. “(Alex Cora) has a plan and I trust him full tilt,” Duran said after a recent win. “Whatever he needs me to do, I’m gonna do. He let me have a little bit of (Monday) off then I came in and pinch-hit and it worked out. He’s a good manager, he’s been doing it and I trust him with whatever we need to do for the team.”
From the Twins’ perspective, trading Ryan would be a significant move. Since acquiring him at the 2022 trade deadline from Tampa Bay, the right-hander has been a cornerstone of Minnesota’s rotation, especially after ace Pablo Lopez’s injury. The Twins front office has shown a willingness to trade high-profile pitchers for promising prospects, as seen in the Jose Berrios deal that netted Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson. However, Ryan’s value is arguably higher, and Minnesota is paying him just $3 million this season while controlling him through 2027, making him a coveted asset.
As the trade deadline looms, Boston faces a critical decision: will they commit to a bold move that could transform their rotation and playoff chances, or will the cost of acquiring Joe Ryan prove prohibitive? For the Red Sox, landing Ryan would create a formidable 1-2 punch atop the rotation alongside Crochet, potentially setting the stage for sustained success. For now, fans and analysts alike watch closely as talks unfold, knowing that any deal involving Ryan will be a defining moment for both franchises this summer.
The trade deadline remains a few weeks away, and with the Twins hovering near the .500 mark, the landscape could shift quickly. If Minnesota falters and the Red Sox step up with an irresistible offer, the baseball world may witness one of the most significant pitching acquisitions of the 2025 season. Until then, Joe Ryan’s future remains one of the hottest topics in Major League Baseball’s summer saga.
