When rivals circle the same prize, diplomacy dies quickly. The Yankees don’t blink when talent’s on the table, and the Red Sox refuse to overpay—even if it costs them October. Now toss in the Minnesota Twins, juggling budget concerns and a $3 million question mark, and you’ve got baseball’s version of a love triangle. One wants leverage, one wants legacy, and one just wants out clean.

New York and Boston might not be at each other’s throats in recent days. But when mentioned in the same sentence, they still turn heads. Now they are not only turning heads, they are also turning to their cheque books, because they are about to get into a bidding war.

In a recent episode of Yankees Unloaded, MLB insider Jon Morosi talked about who the Yankees will be targeting at the deadline. He said, “They [Twins] also have a very interesting starting pitcher in Joe Ryan… I don’t think that Joe Ryan will get traded this month… however, if you were to think about the type of team and farm system that could overwhelm the Twins with an offer for Joe Orion, it would be the Yankees.”

The Yankees are intensely interested in Joe Ryan because he delivers exceptional length and strikeout upside. Ryan’s current 2.72 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and 109⅓ innings pitched illustrate his high-floor consistency. New York craves a frontline starter capable of dominating in tight AL East divisional matchups. Landing Ryan would instantly upgrade their rotation, providing a critical edge during October baseball.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox have also expressed interest in Ryan, though cautiously evaluating the price. Boston values efficiency and roster prudence, preferring to “stand pat” rather than overspend in this market. They admire Ryan’s mastery, top‑tier WHIP (0.91), and K/BB ratio around 5.3 during 2025. But Boston hesitates to sacrifice multiple high-end prospects, recalling their four‑prospect haul costs for Crochet.

If a bidding war with New York erupts, the Yankees clearly hold the advantage. Their deeper farm system allows them to overwhelm offers with high-upside prospects like Spencer Jones. They’d be willing to give up top duo Jones and George Lombard Jr. for Ryan. In that scenario, New York’s resources—and willingness to spend—would likely secure Twins’ ace first.

So while the Yankees come armed with prospects and purpose, the Red Sox come armed with… restraint. That’s not a knock—it’s just hard to win bidding wars when your wallet’s on a diet. In a deadline defined by dollars, depth, and desperation, only one team looks ready to empty the tank. The Yankees see Ryan as rotation royalty; the Red Sox see a receipt. If Minnesota’s selling, New York’s already gift-wrapping the offer.

Forget Yankees and Red Sox, the Mets might just take Joe Ryan

While the Yankees posture and the Red Sox penny-pinch, the Mets might quietly outmaneuver them all. New York’s other team, usually late to the arms race, suddenly looks like the one with both the urgency and the assets. The Twins have a prize, the market has noise, and David Stearns—long known for inaction—might just flip the narrative. Forget AL theatrics; the NL’s getting aggressive.

The Mets have emerged as surprise admirers of Twins All-Star Joe Ryan’s toolbox. With a 10-4 record, 2.63 ERA, and 132 strikeouts in 116.1 innings, his value soars. Stearns rarely splurges on frontline pitching, preferring bargains to blockbusters, even under playoff pressure. Still, the Mets know their October dreams might require something bolder than bullpen depth and injury optimism.

Despite the buzz, a deal remains more rumor than roadmap for the Mets’ front office. The Twins aren’t confirmed sellers yet, and Stearns is known to blink first. Yet if the Twins stumble this week, and the Mets keep winning, the calculus could shift fast. Ryan’s arm won’t come cheap, but championships rarely wait for discounts or delayed decisions.

And if the hook is sharp enough, even a cautious front office might bite. The Mets don’t need another maybe—they need a move that screams intent. Ryan isn’t just a fit; he’s a flex. If Stearns wants to change the narrative, this is how you write in bold. Play it safe, and the parade stays across town.