The Toronto Blue Jays want another starter. That’s not a secret. But the kind of starter they need — a guy who can slot into the top three, stay around for more than a year, and not cost $30 million a season — is harder to find than most people realize.
Joe Ryan fits that profile. The question is whether the Blue Jays have the guts to trade for him.
Why Ryan Is Worth the Gamble
Ryan has been dealing all season. The right-hander has a 3.38 ERA over 21 starts with 131 strikeouts. Those are ace numbers, not just rotation filler. And here’s the part that should matter most to Toronto: Ryan is under team control through 2027 with a player option for 2028. That’s not a rental. That’s a cornerstone.
The Twins have been quiet about their plans, but multiple reports suggest Minnesota is open to moving both Ryan and catcher Ryan Jeffers. Ownership has reportedly pushed back on a full rebuild — the AL is too weak this year to wave the white flag entirely — but the front office sees the bigger picture. They want to restock the system while they can still get real value back.
For Toronto, that means striking while the iron is hot.
The Trade That Works for Both Sides
Here’s the deal that makes sense:
Blue Jays receive: RHP Joe Ryan
Twins receive: LHP Ricky Tiedemann, OF RJ Schreck
Tiedemann Is the Key
Ricky Tiedemann was once Toronto’s top prospect. A top-30 prospect in all of baseball. The stuff has always been there — 226 strikeouts in 140 minor-league innings, a 3.02 ERA, a strikeout rate north of 14 per nine. The problem is the injuries. He’s been hurt, repeatedly. Limited innings. Arm issues that keep popping up like a bad habit.
But here’s the thing: the Blue Jays protected him on the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 Draft because they knew someone else would grab him. That tells you how much talent evaluators still see in that left arm. For a rebuilding Twins team, betting on Tiedemann staying healthy is the kind of risk you take when you’re building for 2026 and beyond. If it works, he’s a frontline starter. If it doesn’t, you’re not losing anything you counted on.
Schreck Brings the Bat
RJ Schreck won’t wow anyone with his athleticism. But the guy hits. He’s a left-handed outfield prospect who put up back-to-back 17- and 18-homer seasons in the minors. He controls the zone, doesn’t chase bad pitches, and makes consistent contact. That’s a profile that translates. Maybe not a star, but a solid everyday contributor who can help a young Twins lineup in the near future.
Together, Tiedemann and Schreck give Minnesota exactly the kind of package a selling team wants: a high-upside arm with trade value down the line, plus a polished bat who can help now. For Toronto, it’s a painful price. But durable, cost-controlled aces don’t hit the market often.
The Blue Jays need to decide if they’re willing to pay it.
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