MLB Rumors: Opinions Split on Twins Trading Top Red Sox Target

It’s no secret the Boston Red Sox are trying to upgrade their starting rotation ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline.

It’s also no secret Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is interested in Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan.

However it’s unclear if the Twins will be trade deadline buyers or sellers.

“One rival executive believes that All-Star starter Joe Ryan will be moved before the deadline, but two others disagree, saying that their perception is that the Twins would have to be overwhelmed to part with the right-hander,” ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Friday.

“The Twins will listen to offers, but are expected to keep starter Joe Ryan,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Sunday.

Ryan, 29, picked up his 10th win of the season on Sunday in the Twins’ 7-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The Minnesota ace dominated on the mound, giving up just one earned run in seven innings of work while striking out 11 batters. He threw 88 pitches, 67 of which were strikes.

Ryan improved to 10-4 while dropping his ERA to 2.63. His tied for third in the American League in wins and ranks seventh in ERA.

On top of that, Ryan is fifth in the AL in strikeouts (132), second in WHIP (0.90) and second among pitchers with a 4.5 WAR.

The right-hander earned a spot on the AL All-Star roster this year. He pitched one scoreless inning in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday, striking out a pair of batters.

Perhaps most compelling is the fact Ryan is making just $3 million this year and has two more seasons of arbitration eligibility remaining. He’s not scheduled to reach free agency until 2028.

The Twins (48-51) are in third place in the AL Central, 11 1/2 games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers. But Minnesota is five games back in the AL Wild Card standings, so it’s entirely possible the Twins hold on to their cost-controlled ace past the trade deadline.