Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan could be one of the hottest names at this year's trade deadline, and his numbers just got a little boost.
On June 30, Joe Ryan gave up six runs to the Houston Astros in the fourth inning. All six runs were originally earned runs, but a scoring change has helped Ryan out. Taylor Trammell was originally given a hit with one man out and Cam Smith on first base, but the ruling has been changed and the hit is now a fielder's choice.
That one change dropped Ryan's ERA from 3.36 to 2.85, marking more than half a run of change in Ryan's ERA. The six-year veteran was the center of many trade rumors last year. He has a $13 million mutual option with a $100,000 buyout for next season. He is a frontline starter and could be a target for many contenders.
Ryan was an All-Star last year and could easily slot in as a No. 2 starter on plenty of postseason teams. He has 122 strikeouts in 19 starts this season. He has no trouble going deep into games and has 10 quality starts on the year. The Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves both make plenty of sense for Ryan at the trade deadline, but really, any team in contention would love to have him.
The Twins are only 1 1/2 games out of a wild card spot entering play on Tuesday, so it's no guarantee that they sell. However, if they feel like they can maximize Ryan's value, it would not be a shock to see them part ways with him. The Twins had a fire sale at last year's deadline, and rumors about the star pitcher and other stars like Ryan Jeffers and Byron Buxton have already begun this year.