​MINNEAPOLIS, MN — On April 6, 2026, Joe Ryan (#41) of the Minnesota Twins faced the Detroit Tigers at Target Field in Minneapolis. The image capturing the moment was taken by Stephen Maturen for Getty Images. Earlier, on June 22, 2023, Ryan, also wearing #41 for the Twins, celebrated a complete-game shutout of the Boston Red Sox at Target Field, with Minnesota prevailing 6-0. That photo is credited to David Berding for Getty Images.
With reports suggesting Tarik Skubal may prefer to remain with Detroit for the rest of the season, Joe Ryan emerges as the next strongest MLB trade candidate for the Minnesota Twins. For the Atlanta Braves, adding a starting pitcher ahead of the MLB trade deadline seems almost required, and failing to acquire such an arm could leave the Phillies with a clearer path to overtake Atlanta in the NL East. A blockbuster acquisition of Joe Ryan could dramatically alter the NL East landscape and bolster the Braves’ pennant odds, though obtaining a pitcher of Ryan’s caliber would come at a high cost, and Atlanta would likely contend with other NL contenders in pursuit of him.
According to MLB Trade Rumors’ list of the top 35 trade candidates, Anthony Franco ranks Joe Ryan as the seventh-best available option this cycle. Franco notes that Ryan has been among the league’s better pitchers for several seasons and appears to be enjoying perhaps the best year of his career, posting a personal-low 3.18 ERA and a 28.5% strikeout rate through 17 starts. Ryan’s command has been strong, and he has mitigated the home-run issue that occasionally surfaced in earlier seasons.
If moved, Ryan would immediately slot into the Braves’ No. 2 spot in the rotation and would be an instant playoff-ready starter. A hypothetical trade package the Braves and Twins might consider could look like this: the Braves would receive right-handed pitcher Joe Ryan, while the Twins would obtain right-hander Owen Murphy (the Braves’ No. 5 prospect), left-handed pitcher Herrick Hernandez (No. 13), and outfielder Brewer Hicklen. The proposed deal would require Atlanta to part with several of its top prospects, but it could be a compelling enough offer for Minnesota to accept.
However, if Joe Ryan is indeed on the trade market, he could attract multiple suitors, forcing Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos to outbid others in pursuit of the best return. This scenario would require careful evaluation of prospect value, immediate MLB impact, and long-term franchise implications for both teams.