The Red Sox’s primary area of focus this offseason is their starting pitching options. And, according to a source within the league who spoke with CBS Sports, Boston is intending to re-explore the possibility of a trade with the Twins for All-Star pitcher Joe Ryan.
Acquiring Ryan, the 29-year-old pitcher whom the Red Sox previously attempted to obtain at the trade deadline, would provide them with a reliable No. 2 starter. Last year, the team placed considerable reliance on Garrett Crochet, frequently referring to him as the team’s backbone, and while his performance may have surpassed even their own expectations (boasting a 2.59 ERA across 205 ⅓ innings), banking on a repeat performance in 2026 poses a significant risk.
“Star players prevent prolonged slumps and build off winning streaks,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora commented during the 2025 season. “That’s what he’s been doing.”
Adding Ryan to the roster would give the Sox another pitcher capable of driving momentum and halting downturns. Such a move would signal to other teams that the Red Sox remain committed to contending.
The 2025 roster was the most logically constructed it had been since 2021. The younger players had accumulated considerable experience and resilience. The veteran players possessed a strong understanding of how to achieve victories. They brought in Alex Bregman, a player who had participated in the postseason every year of his nine-year career. They executed a trade to acquire Crochet, regarded as the best left-handed pitcher to join their rotation since Chris Sale and David Price, even if his experience paled in comparison.
Even with the departure of their cornerstone player, Rafael Devers, and the loss of Roman Anthony to a season-ending oblique injury early in September, the team persevered. Although they did not secure the division title, they did manage to earn a postseason spot as the second wild card. Despite their swift elimination from the playoffs, the season was largely considered a success.
In October, strong starting pitching sets contenders apart from the rest of the field. Exceptional starting pitching leads to World Series victories. The most recent World Series clearly highlighted the disparity in pitching quality, foreshadowing the challenges that lie ahead for the Red Sox in the coming years. The Blue Jays showcased the most potent offense in baseball, without a doubt. The Dodgers, while not performing at their absolute offensive peak, saw their star players rise to the occasion when it mattered most, propelling them to a second consecutive title and their third in six years.
Underlying all of this was the crucial distinguishing factor: starting pitching.
“We have observed that a disproportionate number of runs scored during the postseason come from home runs,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow stated at the GM meetings the previous week. “This is due to the high caliber of pitching, which makes it exceedingly difficult to string together consecutive hits and initiate a rally to drive runs home. Moreover, the postseason schedule allows teams to consistently utilize their best starters and relievers.”
Last August, the Red Sox front office believed they were on the verge of acquiring Ryan, a move that the club was confident would significantly impact their postseason prospects. However, indications from Minnesota suggested otherwise. The Twins apparently felt that Boston’s offer fell short of their valuation. Initially, the Twins requested Roman Anthony in exchange for Ryan, a proposition that the Red Sox immediately rejected. Subsequently, they shifted their focus to prospects Franklin Arias and Payton Tolle, and the Red Sox were prepared to negotiate.
However, when the Twins countered with a request for either Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu, the Red Sox hesitated, unwilling to remove key players from their major league roster. Ultimately, negotiations between the two teams broke down, and a deal never materialized.
Now, the Twins are widely perceived as an organization lacking clear direction, plagued by internal strife among the ownership. Despite their fire sale in August, Minnesota initially anticipated contending as early as 2027. Byron Buxton initially expressed a strong desire to remain and see it through. However, he is now reportedly open to waiving his no-trade clause if it presents an opportunity to join a contending team.
“I don’t believe the Twins themselves are certain [if they will be contenders],” a source with knowledge of the organization’s inner workings told CBS Sports. “I don’t think ownership has a clear understanding of what they’re doing with their budget. But they are aware that their attendance and TV viewership numbers were poor last year. I think they are more likely to trade Pablo Lopez due to his higher salary compared to Ryan. If they were to trade both, I believe Buxton would request a trade, and fan attendance would plummet.”
Ryan has two additional years of team control remaining. He was paid only $3 million last year, a figure that aligns with the Red Sox’s cost-conscious approach over the past five or so seasons. MLB Trade Rumors estimates that his arbitration raise would still only reach $5.8 million for 2026. (In contrast, López is owed over $21 million next year.) Ryan’s contract would not pose a financial hurdle for the Red Sox.
Moreover, given the internal disarray within the Twins organization and the unlikelihood of them contending before 2027, their asking price may not necessitate the Red Sox relinquishing significant major league assets. The structure of the deal is expected to be different this time around.
Finally, considering Ryan’s struggles in the second half of last season (posting a 2.72 ERA in the first half compared to a 4.67 ERA after the break), the idea of pairing him with Crochet should not be dismissed as an unrealistic ambition.
“As we continue to explore ways to improve the team, adding a pitcher to work alongside Garrett is certainly one option we’re considering,” Breslow mentioned last week.
The Red Sox are in dire need of a productive hitter in the middle of their batting order, particularly if they are unable to retain Bregman. And there are no signs that the club is prepared to exceed its financial capabilities to keep him.
Pete Alonso could offer an immediate solution at first base, given the recurring injuries to Triston Casas and the uncertainty surrounding his availability heading into 2026. Perhaps a trade can be arranged. If, against the odds, the club manages to re-sign Bregman, the Red Sox would be in a promising position.
On the pitching front, Brayan Bello demonstrated progress, with Breslow suggesting that he had the potential to be a legitimate No. 2 starter. This assessment may be overly optimistic; Bello appears better suited as a back-end rotation arm at this stage. Tolle and Connelly Early are also in consideration, although one of them may need to be included in a deal to acquire a player like Ryan.
So, could the Red Sox become contenders in 2026? The answer is yes. But acquiring Ryan is merely the initial step, not a complete solution.
