It began with a quiet panic, the kind that creeps in slowly until it’s screaming. When word broke that the Yankees’ star Gerrit Cole would undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2025 season, reality hit like a 99 mph fastball to the gut. Then, out of nowhere, a rotation once thought to anchor a World Series run looked like a crumbling Jenga tower, and time was not on their side.

By late July, it was not just related to Gerrit Cole anymore. The domino effect was undeniable — Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe struggling, and the team’s post-July 1 ERA soaring to an embarrassing 6.03, the second-worst in MLB. Such a collapse does not just invite changes; it demands them. The team answered by scooping up Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario. However, nothing close to what the Yankees truly needed. That is when attention turned to the Twins and more specifically, to the $3M star no one thought would move.

Enter Joe Ryan. The 28-year-old righty has been nothing short of elite in 2025. Through 121.1 innings, the star delivered a 2.82 ERA and an elite 0.92 WHIP. What makes it more jaw-dropping? Joe Ryan is doing this while practically holding the Twins rotation together by himself, with Pablo López and Bailey Ober sidelined because of injury. His consistency is elite-level—he has not delivered a WHIP above 1.05 in any month this season.

Now, you would think a star like this would be untouchable—and to some degree, Joe Ryan is. The Twins have not shown urgency to move the star. GM Derek Falvey currently admitted that “nothing has materialized” in trade talks engaging Ryan, and the pitcher himself also looked to wave off the rumors, saying he “would like to stay” in the Twins. However, when a team like the Yankees comes calling—not once, not twice, however, in Jim Bowden’s words, at “an annoying level”— the firmest stances can begin to shake.

The real kicker is that Ryan is not a rental. With two more arbitration seasons left after 2025, the star is a cost-effective and controllable resource, and this is where the market shifts in his favor. Pitchers like Dylan Cease and Zac Gallen could be on the block, too; however, they are not delivering at Ryan’s level this season. Then there is Sandy Alcantara, whose 6.36 ERA makes the star more red flag than reward.

All of which guides us to the boiling point. The Yankees are pressing hard, the Twins are holding their ground, and Ryan stands smack in the middle of it.

While Joe Ryan remains the most coveted target, the Yankees’ interest extends far beyond just one star. The team’s behavior in the hours leading up to the deadline tells a larger story—one of urgency, unpredictability, and a bullpen on the brink.

Boone’s “We’ll See” masks an urgent final push for pitching reinforcement.

Despite already adding Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, and Austin Slater, Yankees manager Aaron Boone made it clear that the job is not done. The manager’s cryptic two-word message—“We’ll see”—was more telling than it sounded. Speaking to reporters, he said that the front office was still “grinding away” on deals in Tampa, with “a million conversations” going on. Boone’s hope? That the team can still bring in a “piece or two on the mound”—a glaring need, considering the rotation issues that have plagued the Yankees.

The data backs his concern. With Gerrit Cole out for the season following Tommy John surgery and vital stars, like Luis Gil (yet to debut) and Clarke Schmidt (season-ending injury), unavailable, the team is pitching on fumes. The bullpen is not faring much better—closer Devin Williams has struggled, and multiple relievers have gone through injuries. Boone could have left it open-ended with “We’ll see,” however, insiders like Kuty and Kirschner report it would be a “major surprise” if the team does not add multiple pitchers before the deadline slams shut.

The Yankees have made their intentions clear—they are not settling for small fixes. Whether it is a blockbuster for Joe Ryan and multiple bullpen reinforcements, the team is all-in. As the deadline hours fade, fans are left watching, hoping, and wondering: Will desperation fuel a team-changing move?

`