The San Francisco Giants are in a solid spot at the All-Star break, firmly in the playoff race. A trade with the Minnesota Twins for pitcher could significantly strengthen their starting rotation.
Currently sitting third in the NL West, the Giants trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by six games and are just half a game behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL Wild Card spot. They’re clearly in contention, but if they want to make a serious push, upgrading their rotation through a key trade is essential.
SF Giants need to make trade for Joe Ryan to bolster starting rotation
Joe Ryan, a San Francisco native, was originally drafted by the Giants in 2014 but chose to play college baseball at Cal State Northridge. Now excelling with the Minnesota Twins, Ryan is enjoying a breakout year and recently earned his first All-Star selection.
Through 19 games (18 starts), Ryan boasts a 9-4 record with a stellar 2.72 ERA over 109.1 innings. He’s struck out 121 batters while walking just 23, resulting in a WHIP of 0.91. His performance builds on a strong 2024 season, where he posted a 3.60 ERA across 23 starts.
Lately, Ryan has surfaced in trade rumors. The Twins are currently 47-49, 11.5 games behind the AL Central-leading Tigers, and four games out of the final Wild Card spot. If they struggle coming out of the All-Star break, they may pivot to selling at the deadline.
Meanwhile, the Giants are in clear need of starting pitching. ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently highlighted this weakness and suggested San Francisco target a starter—though acquiring one from within the division is often complicated. Dealing with an AL club like Minnesota could be more straightforward.
Ryan’s affordable \$3 million salary makes him a financially viable target. However, the Twins would likely demand a top prospect in return—possibly someone like Carson Whisenhunt—which could make Buster Posey and the front office hesitant.
Still, with Justin Verlander underperforming and Hayden Birdsong struggling, the Giants need to reinforce the rotation. Logan Webb and Robbie Ray have been dependable at the top, and Landen Roupp is emerging, but another reliable starter could make all the difference in a playoff push.
Acquiring Ryan would not only address a critical need but also bring a hometown talent back to the Bay Area. Now it’s up to Posey and the front office to decide if they’re ready to pull the trigger.
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