Joe Ryan Draws Mets Trade Interest as Potential Ace

The New York Mets, fresh off another season of rotation turbulence, are turning to the trade market in a determined bid to stabilize the top of their pitching staff. With a deeper farm system and a clear mandate to compete soon, the Mets are zeroing in on controllable frontline arms—most notably Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan. They’re also kicking the tires on Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. This franchise seems intent on converting prospect depth into proven pitching, and you can feel the urgency.

Mets Shift From Rebuild Talk to Rotation Reload

After years of piecing together veteran-heavy rotations, the Mets are leaning into a more sustainable model. They’re pairing big-market resources with a steady pipeline of young talent.

Now, prospect capital isn’t just about the future. It’s become a currency to acquire the kind of starter who can front a playoff-caliber staff.

A Clear Objective: Find a True Ace

The organizational goal is straightforward: add an ace-level starter who can anchor the rotation for multiple years. Sure, free agency can fill holes, but the club gets that the most valuable arms usually come via trade, when they’re still under team control and in their prime.

To do this, the Mets are ready to leverage what they’ve built—a stronger, deeper farm system than they’ve had in recent memory.

Joe Ryan Emerges as a Prime Trade Target

At the center of these talks is Joe Ryan, the Twins’ steadily ascending right-hander. He’s developed into exactly the type of pitcher the Mets want: young, established, with strikeout stuff and a modern analytical profile.

There’s still room for Ryan to grow. And for a club desperate for stability at the top of the rotation, he checks some critical boxes:

The Twins, for their part, seem open to listening on Ryan if the deal is right. That’s what makes him a realistic trade possibility, not just wishful thinking from the Mets.

Jonah Tong Draws Minnesota’s Interest

No impact arm comes cheap. The Twins have reportedly zeroed in on Jonah Tong, one of the Mets’ more intriguing pitching prospects.

Tong offers the kind of upside small- and mid-market teams crave—cost-controlled, talented, and still developing. If a deal for Ryan heats up, Tong probably headlines the package. That tells you the Mets are serious; they’re willing to part with significant future talent to fortify the present rotation.

Tarik Skubal: The High-End Dream Scenario

Another name on the Mets’ radar is Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. Skubal has blossomed into one of the most electric left-handers in the American League, a true ace who can dominate lineups every fifth day.

Why a Skubal Trade Is Less Likely

Acquiring Skubal is a much tougher task. The Tigers view him as a core piece of their own future, and prying away a young lefty with that ceiling would require a massive haul—probably more than the Mets want to give up.

Still, the fact that Skubal’s even on their radar says something. The Mets aren’t hunting for back-end arms; they’re focused on difference-makers.

Leveraging Farm System Depth for Top-Tier Pitching

The common thread here? The Mets seem ready to use their improved farm system as a trade weapon.

Instead of hoarding prospects, the front office looks prepared to strategically move them to secure established starters with real long-term impact. It’s a bold approach, but maybe it’s exactly what this rotation needs.

A Proactive Approach to a Persistent Problem

The Mets’ rotation keeps popping up as a worry. This front office isn’t waiting around or scrambling in July—they’re getting ahead of it now.

They’re eyeing pitchers like Ryan. Some rumors even point to bigger names, like Skubal.

The goal here? Build a rotation that can actually last, not just patch things for one season.

Maybe it ends up being Joe Ryan. Maybe it’s someone else with more experience, or even a wild card nobody’s guessed yet.

Either way, one thing’s obvious: the Mets are dead set on upgrading their pitching staff through trades. They’ve got prospects to deal and a plan that feels pretty bold.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Twins’ Joe Ryan intrigues Mets as they look to trade for ace