With all 30 teams in one place, Atlanta makes sense as a neutral ground for trades to be negotiated.
It rarely ever happens, though. The All-Star break is usually a quiet time for MLB transactions, with the fireworks ensuing after the break. That doesn’t stop rumors from swirling, though.
One of the biggest names on the market is Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan. The Twins are currently 11 1/2 games out of the American League Central and four games out of the final American League Wild Card spot. It’s been reported that the Boston Red Sox are monitoring the situation, with their eyes potentially on the star pitcher.
Ryan addressed the trade rumors during All-Star media availability.
“It’s fun for me. July is awesome,” Ryan told WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “I think everyone in the clubhouse gets excited seeing where guys are gonna go around the league. Being someone who could get traded, it would be exciting. I do love Minnesota, and I love where I’m at, so it would be sad and hard to go, but at the end of the day, it’s never up to me.
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If the Red Sox want to acquire Ryan, it won’t be cheap. He’s in the middle of his best season as a pro, and still has two years of control after the 2025 season. He currently holds a 2.72 ERA and is striking out hitters at a rate that’s in line with the best in baseball at 28.3%.
Ryan would slot in behind Garrett Crochet in the rotation, a spot Craig Breslow has said they’re inclined to upgrade. With Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello pitching as well as they have, adding Joe Ryan to the staff would make the Red Sox one of the most formidable teams in baseball. It may cost a pretty penny, but the sky is the limit with that group.