The Atlanta Braves’ most glaring weakness in the 2025 season was their starting pitching depth, which collapsed due to an unprecedented wave of injuries (at one point, all five Opening Day starters were on the 60-day IL). With Alex Anthopoulos (AA) stating that starting pitching is a top priority, the Braves must target a high-end, controllable arm.
While free agents like Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez are available, the Braves must trade for Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (the main character in this trade scenario) because he represents the perfect blend of cost, control, and consistency that fits the Braves’ unique team-building philosophy.
Here is the breakdown of why the Braves must trade for Joe Ryan:
1. The Need for Control and Stability
The Braves have repeatedly shown they prefer team control over expensive, long-term free agent contracts for pitchers. Ryan is a perfect fit for this model:
- Two Years of Control: Ryan is under team control for two more seasons through arbitration, making him a high-value, cost-controlled asset for 2026 and 2027. His projected salary for 2026 is only $5.8 million, which is pocket change for the Braves’ payroll.
- A Proven Workhorse: After the rotation disaster of 2025, the Braves need a reliable innings-eater. Ryan delivered a career-high 171 innings with 31 starts in 2025, posting a stellar 3.42 ERA and earning his first All-Star selection. He is a workhorse who wants to go deep into games.
- Analytics Fit: Ryan’s success is driven by a unique fastball with natural “ride” that generates swings and misses at the top of the zone. The Braves, who lean heavily on analytics, could potentially help him refine his pitch sequencing to mitigate his home run rate, maximizing his natural strengths.
2. Perfect Fit for the Rotation’s Depth
The Braves cannot realistically rely on a rotation featuring only Sale and Strider at the top, given their injury histories. Ryan slides in perfectly as an anchor:
| Current Pitcher | Role & Health Concern |
| Spencer Strider | Ace, but recently dealt with injury concerns. |
| Chris Sale | Veteran, going into age-37 season. |
| Reynaldo López | Recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery. |
| Spencer Schwellenbach | Recovering from a broken elbow. |
| Joe Ryan | Stabilizing No. 2/3 and a guaranteed 30 starts. |
Ryan immediately creates a reliable three-headed monster at the top of the rotation, drastically reducing the pressure on their recovering or unproven young starters (Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, etc.).
3. Twins are Motivated Sellers (The “Rebuild”)
The Twins are widely expected to trade Ryan and potentially Pablo López this offseason to cut payroll, as their organization appears to be heading toward a financial “rebuild.”
- Trade Price is Clear: The Twins’ demands for Ryan are known: they want a haul, often cited as two top-50 prospects (one mid-ceiling, one lottery ticket).
- The Braves’ Prospect Capital: The Braves have been reluctant to deal from their high-end prospects, but the necessity of securing an elite arm outweighs holding every prospect. They have a strong farm system and can put together a package of two high-upside pitching prospects (the Twins’ area of need) to complete the deal.
Conclusion: Trading for Joe Ryan satisfies the Braves’ most critical need—reliable, high-level innings—at a price that avoids the financial and draft-pick commitments of the top free agents. This is the calculated, smart move AA needs to make to ensure the Braves’ next championship window remains open.
Given the Twins are looking for prospects, would you like to see the latest updates on the Red Sox’s aggressive pursuit of Joe Ryan? Boston has the young Major League players (like Jarren Duran) the Twins might want as an alternative to prospects.
