The Minnesota Twins were dealt perhaps the worst news possible in the MLB offseason with the announcement that Pablo Lopez will undergo Tommy John Surgery to repair his UCL and will miss the entire 2026 season.
Remember when starter Joe Ryan was a prime subject of trade rumors last July? Expect those to ramp back up with the injury news to Lopez. The Atlanta Braves could (and should) enter themselves in the sweepstakes for Ryan if he’s made available by the Twins. With injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep’s elbows, the Braves are being URGED by many outlets to find a solution and add another arm in some capacity.
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Braves Trade Idea Lands Twins’ All-Star Joe Ryan
Joe Ryan enjoyed a true breakout season in 2025, posting a 3.42 ERA over 30 starts and 171 innings. Ryan was also named an All-Star for the first time in his career.
Back in July, the Twins went full on firesale mode and traded a majority of their big-league roster, and with this Pablo Lopez injury, Minnesota is likely headed for another year being out of contention in the AL Central.
(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)Joe Ryan #41 of the Minnesota Twins could be a top Red Sox trade target, especially after the team did not make a qualifying offer to Lucas Giolito.
In this trade idea, the Braves acquire Joe Ryan from the Twins, and send Minnesota prospects Alex Lodise and LHP Cam Caminiti.
Ryan is an arbitration-level player, so he comes with a couple of years of team control, which drives the price up a bit, so the Braves might have to add in another player or two in order to complete a deal, but Minnesota is certainly looking to bolster its farm even further with young prospects.
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Where does Joe Ryan Fit with the Braves?
As the Braves continue to be linked and urged to veteran starters, Joe Ryan is a more high-profile arm.
Given the injury to Spencer Schwellenbach, Ryan could slot right into the Braves’ rotation as the second or third option.
The biggest thing about the Braves being rumored to all of these starters is the fact that Atlanta needs stability in its rotation and a starter who will be able to take the ball every fifth day.
As currently constructed, the Braves’ rotation after Chris Sale (ace) is Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez (did not pitch in 2025), Grant Holmes (hurt in 2025), and either Joey Wentz or Bryce Elder.
The addition of Joe Ryan would at least give the Braves a lot of flexibility with their pitching staff and help ease the burden of being without Spencer Schwellenbach.
Again, it’s unclear if the Twins are actually entertaining offers for Joe Ryan, but the Pablo Lopez injury will certainly have a lot of MLB teams intrigued in Ryan if he’s made available.
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Braves-Twins Trade Pitch Lands All-Star Pitcher in Atlanta After Pablo Lopez Injury