logo
MLB Writer Floats Joe Ryan Trade Package That Should Leave Cubs Fans 'Giddy'

MLB Writer Floats Joe Ryan Trade Package That Should Leave Cubs Fans 'Giddy'

Newsweek4 days ago
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Chicago Cubs know they have to add at least one starting pitcher ahead of Thursday's deadline. Chicago has had issues with the rotation staying healthy this year, and adding another arm could propel the Cubs to a division crown.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, the starting pitching market is thin. It's why FanSided's Quinn Everts believes the organization will have to cough up a strong package to land Joe Ryan from the Minnesota Twins.
"Cubs fans are giddy at the thought of Ryan pitching in Wrigley, and that fantasy could become reality ... if they're willing to pony up some promising prospects," wrote Everts.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 27: Joe Ryan #41 of the Minnesota Twins pitches in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on May 27, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 27: Joe Ryan #41 of the Minnesota Twins pitches in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on May 27, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.Here is the full trade:
"Wiggins and Alcántara are both near-MLB ready and could feasibly make the 2026 opening day roster in Minnesota, giving the fans something to look forward to," added Everts. "McCullough, although he's ranked lower (No. 24) in Chicago's farm system, is a near-sure bet to be at least a playable reliever in the big leagues. This package accomplishes goals for both sides; Chicago gets the starting arm that could make it World Series favorites, while Minnesota gets three prospects that they can feel comfortable will contribute soon."
This is a hefty package to cough up for a starting pitcher as the Cubs would be sending back two of their top 10 prospects. However, Ryan has 2 1/2 years of team control remaining. Chicago is responsible for paying him the remainder of his $3 million this season as well.
It's a move that will be tough to swallow for the Cubs but one they should make to prepare for a deep playoff run.
More MLB: Yankees 'Facing Pressure' as One of Deadline's Most Desperate Teams
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MLB Rumors: Mariners Got Eugenio Suarez for Discount Rate After Yankees Showed No Interest?
MLB Rumors: Mariners Got Eugenio Suarez for Discount Rate After Yankees Showed No Interest?

Yahoo

time3 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

MLB Rumors: Mariners Got Eugenio Suarez for Discount Rate After Yankees Showed No Interest?

A new report claims the Seattle Mariners were able to get Eugenio Suarez for a reasonable rate because his trade market was far weaker than the Arizona Diamondbacks expected. Earlier this week, the Mariners made another notable splash in the trade market when they acquired the biggest bat available, All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez. The rumors around the game would have you believe he was the most pursued player this month. Well, that was not the case at all. Eugenio Suarez contract: Set to be a free agent after 2025 season According to USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the market for the slugger was very weak. And the New York Yankees — a team heavily linked to Suarez — showed little interest in the two-time All-Star. 'They were stunned on how little action they got on Suarez. They wanted to move him desperately. But nobody was offering anything,' Nightengale said on 'The Foul Territory Show.' 'A few GMs have told me that at the trade deadline, you never get much for position players. Even when JD Martinez got moved to the Diamondbacks years ago, they gave up a bag of balls for the guy. 'They were very disappointed that the Yankees didn't go after him, and then the Reds went to Hayes instead of going after him. The market for [Suarez] cratered.' The 34-year-old is on pace to hit over 50 homers and well over 100 RBIs this year. Along with the acquisition of Josh Naylor a couple of weeks ago, the Mariners now have a pair of big bats to go along with MVP candidate Cal Raleigh in the second half. They are a real threat to get to the World Series in October. Eugenio Suaez stats: .248 AVG, .319 OBP, .572 SLG, .891 OPS, 36 HR, 87 RBI, 66 R Suarez is a rental and is unlikely to be re-signed after the season unless Seattle wins a championship. In the trade, the M's gave up prospects Tyler Locklear, Hunter Cranton (No. 16 team prospect), and Juan Burgos. All of them are players ranked outside the top eight in the team's system. Related Headlines San Diego Padres Game Today: Includes Full 2025 Padres Schedule Atlanta Braves Game Today: Includes Full 2025 TV Schedule ESPN's Jeff Passan Torches 'Bitter' Ex-MLB Player in Brutal Social Media Exchange Post-Trade Deadline MLB Power Rankings: Mets and Padres Surge After Busy Week

A day after 8 players were traded, Joe Ryan and Twins take stock: ‘It's just sobering'
A day after 8 players were traded, Joe Ryan and Twins take stock: ‘It's just sobering'

New York Times

time5 minutes ago

  • New York Times

A day after 8 players were traded, Joe Ryan and Twins take stock: ‘It's just sobering'

CLEVELAND — He briefly thought he'd been traded, discovered it wasn't the case, and then watched in bewilderment as many of his Minnesota Twins teammates, some seated beside him, were shockingly dealt on one of the most excruciating days in team history. Joe Ryan relayed a trade deadline experience similar to ones told by many of his teammates who woke up Friday still playing for the Twins the day after the club shipped out eight key players in a blitz before Thursday's trade deadline. Advertisement Though the remaining Twins knew to expect trades involving impending free agents, multiple players said they were waylaid when the series of deals included team-controlled relievers Griffin Jax, Louis Varland and Brock Stewart as well as star shortstop Carlos Correa. In all, the Twins traded 10 players off their major-league roster between Monday and Thursday, a frenzy that also included closer Jhoan Duran going to Philadelphia. In the aftermath, players took stock Friday as they returned to action for the first time in nearly 48 hours. Shortly after delivering another good pitching performance in a 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in 10 innings, Ryan admitted thinking he wouldn't even be in a Twins uniform after an erroneous report temporarily left him thinking he'd been traded to the Boston Red Sox. 'I obviously thought I got traded for several minutes,' Ryan said after allowing two earned runs in six innings at Progressive Field. 'Then I was like, 'Is this going to happen? What's the deal?' That was a weird mix of emotions. I was with Griffin during that. It was just weird. Then he didn't think he was going to get traded and he got traded and I didn't. … It's been a whirlwind.' Some in the visiting clubhouse recounted how they spent their wild day, noting multiple groups of players watched the events unfold together at the team hotel. Others, many fresh faces having just arrived to replace those who'd been traded, started the process of acclimating to a new clubhouse full of unfamiliar teammates. And then there were a few who admitted they're still trying to process what happened as the Twins' front office embarked on one of the busiest days at the trade deadline in baseball history. 'It's got to be historic, right?' said third baseman Royce Lewis, who spent Thursday at home before flying later that night. 'Pretty unique situation.' Advertisement The scene was so surreal that Twins president Derek Falvey and general manager Jeremy Zoll flew to Cleveland on Friday morning to answer any players' questions. Manager Rocco Baldelli addressed the entire team and spoke with some individuals to discuss the opportunity the series of deals presented. The Twins also brought along outfielder Byron Buxton, who's on the trip even though he's on the injured list, believing the veteran's presence would be helpful. 'Having that leader definitely helps,' outfielder Matt Wallner said. 'It was the most interesting day of my big-league career for sure. … Saying goodbye sucks.' Wallner was with Trevor Larnach, Cole Sands, Justin Topa and Bailey Ober Thursday. Gripped by a need for instant information, Wallner re-activated a social media account he hadn't used for two years to keep up with trade speculation. He's since deactivated it. He noted the trades of Varland, which players learned of 10 minutes before the 5 p.m. CT deadline, and Jax, which arrived six minutes later, were the biggest shockers. The series of moves creates an opportunity for Sands and Topa to pitch in high-leverage innings. Before Friday's game, Baldelli spoke to both relievers to discuss their new roles. 'Ever since I've been in the big leagues we've had Griff and Duran in the back of the bullpen,' Sands said. 'Knowing that there's responsibility for others now, including myself, to go out there and shut the door and go get those (outs), it's a little different. We're going to have to go embrace that opportunity.'' Experiencing a day unlike any other he's seen in a professional career that began in 2000, Baldelli knew he needed to gather his players and see how they felt. He also wanted to deliver a message about the opportunity being afforded to some. Equally affected, Baldelli was excited to get back to work after a taxing week. Advertisement 'Sometimes the best thing to get away from something is to go play,' Baldelli said. 'It actually helps you relax. … No one's done processing all parts of what went on. That might take some time to happen, but we have to get back to work.' For rookie Alan Roden, Friday was his first day at a new workplace. The Wisconsin-born left fielder was acquired with minor-league pitcher Kendry Rojas in a deal that sent Varland to the Toronto Blue Jays. Though the 25-year-old spent Thursday preparing for a Triple-A game in Buffalo, Roden wasn't stunned to learned he'd been traded. One of eight players added to the Twins' roster on Friday, Roden tried to meet new teammates before he started and batted second, finishing 0-for-5. 'You always know (being traded is) a possibility at that time of year, especially when you're a prospect on a team that's trying to compete,' Roden said. 'It was a pretty normal day until it wasn't.' Now in his 11th season in the majors, catcher Christian Vázquez couldn't recall experiencing a day like Thursday before. He also grappled with being an anomaly on the Twins' roster, the only impending free agent of the team's six to not be traded. 'It's the first time I've seen this in my career,' Vázquez said. 'It's hard. But it's a business. Maybe God wanted me here for a reason. Yeah, I'm still here.' Four days removed from the birth of his son, Ryan Jeffers also spent Thursday at home before catching a late-night flight to rejoin the club. He'd spent part of the day at the aquarium and riding a carousel with his 2-year-old daughter. For a minute, Jeffers also thought he'd been traded. But as he stood by his stall in the Twins' clubhouse Friday, Jeffers opined why his team underwent such a drastic facelift. 'We've shown glimpses of greatness and glimpses of one of the worst teams in baseball,' Jeffers said. 'Maybe a reset was needed. Maybe this is the harsh reality of what was needed for this club. It's a hard pill to swallow for players, fans and everyone associated with the organization.' Advertisement Thursday's deadline outcome was particularly strange for Ryan to consider. After spending part of the day listening to Grateful Dead tracks and trying to distract himself, Ryan joined Correa, Jax and Varland on Thursday. Ryan and several others noted Varland was emotional after learning he'd been traded away by his hometown club. Multiple players wondered aloud Friday why the team traded away Varland, Jax, Duran and Stewart, players who were several seasons away from reaching free agency. Only 15 minutes before Varland was traded, Ryan thought he'd been sent to Boston. Within seconds, the report of the trade was removed from social media, but Ryan still thought it could happen. 'It felt like I was throwing an intense situation in a game,' Ryan said. 'We were with Carlos, too. We were sitting in there and it felt like a f—ing horserace. … There's some guys that I'm confused by why they got moved. I'm happy, I hope their opportunities work out for them and I hope they have great careers. But it is weird when your friends that you've been with for so long are just gone the next day. … It's just sobering.' (Photo of Ryan: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)

ESPN's Jeff Passan Torches 'Bitter' Ex-MLB Player in Brutal Social Media Exchange
ESPN's Jeff Passan Torches 'Bitter' Ex-MLB Player in Brutal Social Media Exchange

Yahoo

time21 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

ESPN's Jeff Passan Torches 'Bitter' Ex-MLB Player in Brutal Social Media Exchange

ESPN's Jeff Passan is never afraid to spar on social media. And we got a doozy between the reporter and former MLB player Doug Mientkiewicz on X on Friday. It all started over an innocuous post Passan made about the David Bednar trade to the New York Yankees where the Pittsburgh Pirates received prospects Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez in return. Passan said Perez makes 'good swing decisions' and that comment somehow raised the ire of Mientkiewicz, a career .271 hitter with 66 home runs and a 100 OPS+ across seven different teams over a 12-year career. 'Man what a time to be alive when a non baseball person writes 'excellent swing decisions' for a guy hitting 209 in A ball and is a career .241 hitter,' Mientkiewicz replied. 'I swear some scouts and writers will say anything to sound somewhat intelligent to non baseball people.' Passan didn't stand for that and fired back at Mientkiewicz, calling him 'bitter.' 'That description came from a scout, Doug. Do you hate them, too, or are you just bitter because batting average is no longer the metric people care about and it's the only one you were ever good at? Stay bitter, guy,' Passan retorted. Mientkiewicz couldn't leave that reply alone and responded: 'Glad you finally admitted that guy. Here is a line you should never forget. I can do what you do, you can't do what the players do. Bitter? Not at all. Without players you have no job. Without scouts you have zero knowledge. Don't forget it guy!' Then Passan went in for the kill. 'It's a good thing I'm trying not to play, Doug. The sad part is that you're trying to think, and you are absolutely terrible at it,' the ESPN reporter said. 'There's nothing more sad than an old ballplayer who wants things to be like they once were and is too incurious to care the game passed them by.' Passan then concluded: 'You had a good career. You were a good ballplayer. You did things I never could. That doesn't give you license to say stupid things. I don't know a lot — so I ask people who do. You think you know a lot — and those who actually do laugh at you.' Mientkiewicz didn't respond after that final blow. Mientkiewicz is best known for catching the final out of the 2004 World Series while playing first base for the Boston Red Sox.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store