The 2026 MLB season is right around the corner and the New York Yankees are set to gear up for it with spring training getting underway.
Coming off of a relatively quiet offseason, the Yankees have received quite a bit of criticism and doubt from their fans and the media. No one knows what to expect from the team this season.
During the MLB offseason, New York was able to re-sign star outfielder Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million contract. Outside of that move, nothing aggressive was done. Brian Cashman opted to relatively “run it back” to begin 2026.
While the offseason wasn’t very busy for the Yankees, they will have plenty of opportunity to make moves via the trade market this season. If the season gets off to a slow start, fans should expect to hear the trade rumors heat up quickly.
Keeping that in mind, New York has once again been connected to a potential franchise-altering trade option as the season gets ready to begin.
New York Yankees Linked to Blockbuster Potential Trade
Matthew Schmidt of Roundtable Sports has once again brought up Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan as a possible option. He previously suggested Ryan as a trade target for the Yankees, but a new update may make the move even more possible.
“Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan was mentioned as a potential trade candidate over the winter, but the Twins opted to hold on to him. That now may have changed given the news that Pablo Lopez tore his UCL,” Schmidt wrote.
“Now, it makes perfect sense for Minnesota to move Ryan sometime between now and the August trade deadline, because it’s blatantly obvious the Twins won’t be contending. So could the Yankees jump in?”
In addition to the idea of pursuing a trade for Ryan, Schmidt noted how the financial side of the deal would actually make a lot of sense for New York.
“Ryan would comprise an ideal target for New York right now given that he is making just $6.1 million this year and has $13 million mutual option for 2027 before hitting free agency. For a Yankees club that has been watching its payroll closely, Ryan would actually be an inexpensive addition given his talent level.”
What Would Joe Ryan Bring to the Table for the Yankees?
Ryan is one of the most underrated aces in baseball. Adding him to the roster would make the Yankees a much more serious World Series contender.
During the 2025 MLB season with the Twins, the 29-year-old pitcher made 30 starts and appeared in 31 total games. He compiled a 13-10 record to go along with a 3.42 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, a 5.0 K/BB ratio, and 171 innings pitched.
Those numbers show why New York should have interest in Ryan. He wouldn’t be a cheap trade target, but he’s a game-changing pitcher.
Expect to hear plenty of rumors about the Yankees as the 2026 season gets started. They still have some needs to address and Ryan would be a big step in the right direction.
Yankees Again Linked to Potential Franchise-Altering Trade Option