Seven years without a win in the playoffs, one ALDS sweep, and a century-old loyal fanbase eagerly waiting for an October triumph have all led to this moment. But every October, the same question echoes: Who will step up when the lights are brightest? The answer, according to one MLB insider, is clear—the Baltimore Orioles’ path to redemption runs straight through the mound. History shows that postseason glory demands a true ace who can silence the doubters and anchor a championship run. For a franchise haunted by near-misses and unfinished business, the time for patience is over. The Orioles must make their boldest bet yet, or risk watching another October slip away.
It is no secret in the baseball world that the Orioles are on their way up in the pecking order when it comes to the AL East division. They are living up to their new reputation as powerhouses, having been stuck at the bottom of the standings only a few years ago. They achieved their status through their stacked farm system, a promising lineup of youngsters in the pipeline, and ambitions for the playoffs. However, there comes a time for every franchise to find the missing piece in their roster and go all-out in the trade window.
Amid all the trade rumours and speculation, the name of Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan has emerged as a potential solution to end the postseason drought. MLB insider Jim Bowden claimed that the Maryland-based club is all set to go all in for the right-handed pitcher in the trade window.
“The Orioles need an ace if they want to contend in the American League East and return to the postseason. Enter Ryan, who can step into that role for them. Ryan is 35-28 with a 3.84 ERA over his five-year career. This season, batters have hit .189 against his four-seam fastball and .192 against his sweeper. He is under team control through 2027,” Bowden wrote in his recent column.
According to The Athletic columnist, Bowden revealed proposed deal consists of a package including Cade Povich, Coby Mayo, and Michael Forret in exchange for Ryan. For the Twins, the 28-year-old boasts a 2.93 ERA this season with 47 strikeouts in 40 innings. More importantly, the San Francisco native is walking just 1.1 batters and striking out over 10 per nine innings. Ryan has displayed unbelievable consistency in the last 30 starts, with an ERA of 3.45, an aspect missing on the mound for the Orioles since the 2010s.
The likes of Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish have displayed only flashes of brilliance at times this season. But neither appears to be a sure-shot Game 1 postseason starter. The Orioles’ need for a genuine frontline option who can take them deep into the season is quite glaring. Their rotation policy has been found out, and they currently rank in the middle of the charts as far as team ERA is concerned. That’s why Bowden, best known for his deep knowledge of front-office logistics, trade proposals, and roster analysis, vouched for Ryan’s place in the Orioles’ clubhouse. But is he worth it?
Is Joe Ryan worth Orioles’ $91M gamble?
According to Spotrac, Ryan’s estimated annual value in the transfer market is around $18 million. For a five-year deal, the estimate comes out to around $91 million. This is the amount a franchise has to shell out for the young pitcher if he hits free agency. But the question is, why should the Orioles be ready for such a gamble in the long term?
The strategic acquisition of Ryan in the trade market will not only solve Baltimore’s issues for this season; it’s also about maximizing his value before he hits the dreaded nine-figure mark. Given the Orioles’ affinity towards analytics and data extrapolation, it won’t be rocket science to realize that they won’t find a better value than Ryan under team control. Especially with ace pitchers like Aaron Nola and Blake Snell bagging lucrative contracts.
Further, their young core, featuring Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Jackson Holliday, is all set to hit arbitration. Therefore, the budget flexibility becomes a concerning matter. This is also one of the major reasons why the trade makes sense now more than ever.
Last but not least, the 6’2″ chucker offers presence for the Orioles and is not just an innings-eater or a stopgap. But a reliable option, a front-of-the-rotation piece, with an elite mentality and expertise in pressure situations. So, all in all, the acquisition of Ryan in the trade market isn’t a luxury but a necessity for the Baltimore Orioles.
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