The trade Padres must offer for Twins’ Joe Ryan

Story by

Story by
The trade Padres must offer for Twins’ Joe Ryan

Garrett Kerman, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, May 18, 2026 ·

4 min read

About Our Ads

The trade Padres must offer for Twins' Joe Ryan appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The San Diego Padres have quietly been operating with one of the most unsettled back-ends of a starting rotation in the National League all season. With ace Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove both on the IL with uncertainty surrounding their return, there aren't many reliable arms behind Michael King (4-2, 2.31 ERA), who's been great this season, and Walker Buehler (3-2, 5.01 ERA), who's starting to come into his own after a rocky start to the season.

Lucas Giolito and Randy Vasquez fill spots in the rotation, but neither inspires the kind of confidence you need from a playoff-caliber rotation. San Diego needs a frontline starter. The Minnesota Twins happen to have one they might be willing to move.

Joe Ryan is arguably the most tradeable arm of genuine quality in all of baseball. Under club control through the 2027 season with a 2026 salary of just $6.1 million, Ryan is posting a 3.20 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 50.2 innings this season, having struck out 52 batters while allowing just three home runs. He is not just a salary dump, he is a legitimate No. 2 or No. 3 starter in a playoff rotation. MLB front office executives voted him the second-most likely name to be moved by the August 3 Trade Deadline, trailing only Sandy Alcantara . The Padres have both the prospect capital and the motivation to make this deal happen.

Why Minnesota Would Pull the Trigger

The Twins are in a full rebuild. After selling off key pieces at the 2025 trade deadline, Minnesota has been transparent about prioritizing the future over the present. Ryan almost certainly won't re-sign in Minnesota long term, making his two remaining years of control a valuable asset the Twins should monetize now rather than let expire.

While Minnesota closed the door on meaningful trade talks before the 2026 season, the calculus shifts dramatically once a rebuilding team falls out of contention mid-season. The Twins currently sit beneath .500, and if that trend continues into July, GM Thad Levine will likely revisit Ryan's trade market with fresh eyes.

For Minnesota, the ideal return is a mix of ready-now minor-league talent and premium young prospects with upside. The Padres' farm system, while depleted at the top after years of aggressive trades, still has enough intriguing pieces to put together a compelling package. And that is exactly where the perfect offer comes into play.

The Perfect Trade Offer

The Padres should present the following package to Minnesota:

Braedon Karpathios (OF, Double-A):A left-handed hitting outfielder who broke out in 2025 with a .249/.357/.413 line between High-A and Double-A, posting a career-best 15 home runs. His 90th percentile exit velocity of 105.8 mph and a 19% chase rate make him one of the better contact-power combos in the Padres' system. His bat profiles as a future MLB regular.

Garrett Hawkins (RHP, Triple-A):The Padres' 2025 organizational Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Hawkins dominated across two levels with a 1.50 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 80 strikeouts across 60 innings. The 6-foot-5 right-hander sits mid-90s with exceptional ride on his four-seamer and is already on San Diego's 40-man roster, meaning he could contribute to Minnesota's bullpen as early as September 2026.

Joniel Hernandez (SS, international signee):The crown jewel of San Diego's 2026 international signing class, the Cuban shortstop signed for $1.4 million, the highest bonus the Padres handed out in the class. Ranked No. 13 on MLB Pipeline's international Top 50, Hernandez is a potential five-tool talent with plus bat speed, above-average power projection, and a 6.3-second 60-yard dash. He is the kind of high-upside lottery ticket that rebuilding organizations covet.

Why This Works for San Diego

Giving up three prospects of this caliber is not a small ask, but acquiring two full years of a legitimate frontline starter at $6.1 million annually is the kind of deal that can flip a franchise's trajectory. The Padres are a World Series contender when healthy and whole, their window is not closing, it is wide open. Ryan would slot in as a true No. 2 starter behind King, giving San Diego the rotation depth it desperately lacks until Pivetta and Musgrove work their way back from injury.

Karpathios, Hawkins, and Hernandez are talented pieces, but none of them move the needle the way a polished, All-Star-level starter does for a team trying to win right now. For a Padres organization that knows how to make bold moves, this is exactly the kind of calculated bet that separates good teams from championship-caliber ones.

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: