Cory Moen

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images / © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images There has been plenty of speculation since this past July’s trade deadline that the Minnesota Twins could trade one of the top of the rotation starters, Joe Ryan or Pablo Lopez. At one point, Ryan even thought he had been traded to the Boston Red Sox before reports were taken back, and he had in fact not been traded. Pablo Lopez was dealing with a shoulder injury and was on the injured list, so the discussions around him were much more limited than they would have been if he were healthy. With one or both possibly being traded, let's take a look at what the acquiring teams may see, or be hesitant about, in acquiring the former All-Star starters the Twins currently have on their roster. The Twins acquired both Ryan and Lopez via trade. Ryan was acquired in 2021 as the main piece in the return for an aging Nelson Cruz from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline. Lopez was acquired in an offseason trade in January of 2023, in a deal for Luis Arraez, which was met with mixed reviews from Twins fans at the time. Both have been in the Twins' rotation since being acquired. Comparing the past few years, both have dealt with Teres Major strains. Lopez dealt with this injury in 2025, and Ryan dealt with it in 2024. Not to get too much into the anatomy, but the Teres Major muscle is a part of the shoulder and is a key muscle used in activities like throwing. Both pitchers have dealt with other injuries, with Lopez’s injury history being slightly longer, but he has also been in the majors longer. Lopez also dealt with a forearm injury, which ended his 2025 season prematurely after returning from the shoulder injury that had sidelined him for three months earlier in the season. Injuries aside, let’s take a look at what an acquiring team will get from each of Ryan and Lopez, assuming they are healthy to start the 2026 season and beyond. Both pitchers are under team control for two more seasons, through the 2027 season. Both pitchers will also be pitching in their age-30 seasons in 2026. Where things differ is that Lopez is being paid $21.75 million for the next two years, and Ryan is controlled via arbitration and projected for a 2026 salary in the $6 million range. Because of this, along with the fact that Ryan was healthier this past season, the Twins would likely get a more robust return for him over Lopez. Over the past three seasons, Lopez and Ryan have been quite valuable when on the field for the Twins. In that time, Lopez pitched to a 3.44 FIP, while Ryan pitched to a 3.79 FIP. Lopez’s strikeout rate has dipped over the past three years, dropping from 29.3% in 2023 to 23.4% in 2025. At the same time, Ryan’s strikeout rate in that same time has been 28.3% in that same three-year span and has been more consistent. They have both dealt with injuries, but have been worth 8.0 WAR (Lopez) and 8.3 WAR (Ryan), respectively. Let’s highlight a few teams that may look to trade for one of them and how Ryan and Lopez would fit onto each of their rosters. Chicago Cubs: The Cubs have been linked to starting pitching and might be looking to add depth to their rotation. Shota Imanaga accepted the Qualifying Offer for the 2026 season, but the front office may be looking to acquire another arm that is controlled beyond next season. Both Lopez and Ryan would slot into the top portion of the Cubs rotation and help them push for the NL Central crown and make a deeper playoff run. Boston Red Sox: This may seem slightly less likely after the acquisition of Sonny Gray. Still, the Red Sox showed interest in Joe Ryan at the trade deadline and may rekindle talks with the Twins on either Ryan or Lopez if they decide they are looking for another rotation upgrade. If acquired, this would likely bump one of Patrick Sandoval or Kutter Crawford into a long relief/spot starter role. Still, it would lengthen the starting rotation, as most teams use over 10 starting pitchers in any given season. Lopez or Ryan would slot in next to Sonny Gray and Bryan Bello as starters who could conceivably start a playoff game, which every team could use, no matter what their depth looks like. Toronto Blue Jays: Coming off a loss in the World Series, the Blue Jays are positioning themselves to make another run at taking down the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won the last two World Series titles. While some may think the Blue Jays are not looking to add another starter after making a run, any team, no matter how successful, could use another playoff-caliber starter. Shane Bieber is returning, but for only one year, so the Blue Jays may look to add either Lopez or Ryan to lengthen their starting rotation depth. They also added a new ace, Dylan Cease, on a seven-year deal, so that they may be less likely than other teams on this list, but every competitive team is looking for every advantage it can get to improve its chances of winning a title. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Twins and Blue Jays have lined up for trades multiple times, first back in 2021 when the Blue Jays acquired Jose Berrios, and more recently at the 2025 trade deadline, when the Twins sent Louis Varland and Ty France to Toronto in return for outfielder Alan Roden and pitching prospect Kendry Rojas. San Diego Padres: Speaking of looking to take down the mighty Dodgers, the Padres have been known to leave no stone unturned in looking to be the new kings of the National League West division. AJ Preller, the Padres' President of Baseball Operations, is known as an executive who will not just sit on his hands but will look to make a splashy move to help the team improve and make a run, not just for the division title but to win a World Series. A prime example of this is trading MLB Pipeline’s #3 prospect Leo De Vries as part of a deal to acquire closer Mason Miller from the Athletics at the 2025 trade deadline. Preller is an executive who will not be happy with the team's exit in the Division Series and is always looking to make moves to improve the team's chances of winning the World Series. With Dylan Cease moving on, a potential acquisition of a starting pitcher is likely for the Padres. The Padres and Twins could line up for a trade in the right scenario, as the Padres are looking not only to replace Cease but also to add more starting depth to work with throughout the 2026 season and ideally into the playoffs. While the Twins do not have to trade either Lopez or Ryan, they could hold on to both to see if the team is competitive before the trade deadline. Derek Falvey, the Twins President of Baseball and Business Operations has said he wants to add, not subtract, but like every head of baseball ops, if given a deal that he just cannot refuse, will he look for a lengthier rebuild instead of trying to rebuild a team on the fly that sold off 10 players at this past year’s trade deadline? We’ll know in the next few months. View full article

I didn't realize they were roommates! That's fun! I like that idea as well for the Twins bullpen. Especially with the limited resources they have in building back the bullpen.

Image courtesy of © Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK / © BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Rule-5 draft is an intriguing time for both the folks who follow prospects closely and those who do not. Historically, most Rule 5 Draft picks have been players that teams see as potential bullpen pieces, or a position player who can fill a role-player spot on the roster, such as a fourth outfielder or middle infielder. These players are typically not expected to be starting-caliber right away, but rather to fill a spot that would otherwise have gone to a player who was on the verge of making the roster. To be eligible for the Rule-5 draft, a player must meet one of the following requirements, per MLB.com: Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club's 40-man roster within five seasons, or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players who signed at age 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons. Here is a look at seven players who were not protected and added to their respective teams' 40-man rosters and could make an impact with the right opportunity in 2026. I’ve identified one catcher, one middle infielder, one outfielder, and four pitchers who are eligible to be selected in the Rule-5 draft come December 10. Note: All prospect rankings are per MLB Pipeline. Daniel Susac - C A’s #11 prospect Susac, a former first-round pick in 2022 out of the University of Arizona, has steadily risen through the minor league ranks since being drafted. Susac has proven to be solid defensively and seems likely to stick at the position, which is often a question for catchers who hit well in the minors. He played the 2025 season at Triple-A Las Vegas, which plays in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Susac held his own at the plate, hitting .275/.349/.483 over 97 games and 360 at-bats. Susac is behind both Shea Langeliers and Austin Wynns on the Athletics catching depth chart, and if taken in the Rule-5 draft, may get an opportunity sooner than he would if he stays in the Athletics organization. For a team looking for a backup catcher, Susac could fill that role nicely and be eased into a big league opportunity. It’s not often you see a former first-round pick at catcher with a year at Triple A under his belt available in the Rule 5 Draft, so Susac may find himself in a new organization before the calendar flips to 2026. Blake Burkhalter - RHP Braves #11 prospect Blake Burkhalter was a 2nd round pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2022 draft out of Auburn University, where he served as a relief pitcher. He has worked his way up the minor league ladder since being drafted, spending the 2025 season at Double A and finishing the year in Triple A. He has worked both as a starter and as a reliever in his professional career. While he has not struck out batters at a high rate, he did throw over 100 innings this past year, both as a starter and out of the bullpen. He has also done a solid job of keeping the ball in the ballpark, allowing 0.4 HR/9 over three minor league seasons. With a history of injuries, most prominently Tommy John surgery shortly after his professional career started, one may think he is destined to be a reliever. Still, he has been given the chance to start up to this point. If a team decided to draft him in the Rule 5 Draft, he would more than likely work out of the bullpen with the ability to be a swing man or a spot starter when necessary. Burkhalter has shown he can throw all four of his pitches for strikes, which is a useful asset regardless of his role on the pitching staff. While he has the potential to be a viable starting pitcher, using him as a reliever could be a good move for a team looking for some bullpen depth with some upside of being a later-inning weapon if things unfold that way. Brandon Birdsell, RHP Cubs #9 prospect A fifth-round pick in 2022, Birdsell was elevated to Double-A in his first professional season in 2023. He was named the Cubs minor league pitcher of the year in 2024, but started the 2025 season on the injured list with elbow issues. After coming back, he looked pretty solid before having season-ending elbow surgery in August. The injury may make teams shy away because they are unsure of his health. In 33 2/3 innings when healthy in 2025, he pitched to a 2.94 ERA with 33 strikeouts and a .238 average against. Birdsell was on pace to make his major league debut this past season, so if a team thinks he could make an impact after an injury-marred season, it is possible he is selected in the Rule-5 draft. While injured players are not often selected, if a team feels he is worth a 40-man roster spot until he is back healthy, it's not out of the question that he is selected by a team that sees him as someone they could ease him in as a reliever coming off the injury this past year. Peter Heubeck - RHP Dodgers #23 prospect Heubeck was a third-round pick (101st overall) in 2021. Heubeck was an above-slot signing after being drafted and has added velocity since then. He hasn’t consistently thrown strikes in pro ball, posting a 5.5 BB/9 since being drafted. A reason a team might be intrigued by Heubeck is his 11.4 K/9 over that same time period. Heubeck spent the 2025 season with Double-A Tulsa, where he started 16 games with a 4.34 ERA over 66 1/3 innings, recording 77 strikeouts and 34 walks. He also had a .198 average against, which could be intriguing for a team looking for a bullpen arm that has some high-octane raw stuff, as long as they can reign in his overall repertoire. If selected, Heubeck could serve as a spot starter or low-leverage reliever, with the upside of taking on higher-leverage spots if the results follow. If a team believes they can help him with the control issues and allow him time to have his ups and downs, Heubeck could develop into a nice Rule 5 selection. Noah Miller - SS Dodgers #25 prospect The younger brother of Rockies infielder Owen Miller, Noah, was a first-round compensatory pick, 36th overall, by the Minnesota Twins in 2021. The Dodgers acquired Miller in 2024 in a trade for Manuel Margot and minor league infielder Rayne Doncon. In his young professional career, Miller has shown he absolutely has the ability to stick at shortstop. However, the jury is still out on whether he will be able to hit enough to be a serviceable option in the big leagues. Miller’s glove will be the reason he is selected in the Rule 5 Draft, if a team believes he could serve as a late-inning defensive replacement and move around the diamond to provide a utility infielder type role. If a team that does not expect to need that roster spot for something else is willing to be patient to see if his hit tool can catch up to his glove, Miller could turn into a solid Rule-5 selection in the right opportunity. Regardless of whether he is selected, he will be an interesting prospect to follow to see if the Dodgers or another team can help him develop into a quality regular with the upside of winning a gold glove one day. Jagger Haynes - LHP Padres #10 prospect A fifth-round pick in 2020, Haynes was a selection the Padres made, seeing upside in his 6’3”, 170 lb frame at just 17 years old. He underwent Tommy John surgery and did not make his professional debut until the 2023 season. He was limited in that season by other injuries and ailments, which meant 2024 was his first full year as a professional without any major disruptions. In that season, he threw 110 2/3 innings, where he recorded 114 strikeouts and 66 walks. With a year under his belt, he pitched the 2025 season at Double-A, where he put up similar numbers to the prior year, throwing 103 innings with 101 strikeouts and 62 walks. Those numbers led him to have a solid 4.11 ERA. He was left unprotected in 2024 in the Rule-5 draft and was not selected, but with another healthy year under his belt, a team might be compelled to see if he can turn into a weapon out of the bullpen, starting him out in lower leverage roles and seeing how things go. He is intriguing in some ways, but the high walk rate may make teams shy away from selecting him come December. Victor Arias - OF Blue Jays #9 prospect Signed out of Venezuela as an international free agent in 2019 at the age of 16, Arias has steadily climbed the minor league ladder, finishing the 2025 season with Double-A New Hampshire. One of the better outfield defenders in the Blue Jays system, the big question Arias will face is whether his bat can hold up against upper-minor and major league pitching. At 5’9” and 150 lbs, all the words you would expect have been used to describe Arias. He spent most of the 2025 season at High-A. He did play 36 games at Double-A. Between High-A and Double-A, he hit .272/.353/.403 over 102 games played with seven home runs, 47 RBIs, 50 BB, and 102 K. He also stole 18 bases, so that he could be used as a weapon on the basepaths for a team excited about that as a possibility. While at first glance, most would say he is probably a full year from being an impactful major leaguer, if a team deems it worthwhile to put him on the roster as the fourth or fifth outfielder, they could end up with a Rule-5 selection they are quite pleased with in a few years. View full article