The Baltimore Orioles are not off to a fast start in 2025. At 13-20, they sit at the bottom of the American League East, 5 1/2 games back of the first place New York Yankees.
The AL is not a powerhouse by any means, but Baltimore is struggling mightily. Their main problem has been their pitching, or lack thereof.
They lost Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks and did not replace him, so if they find themselves back in the mix at the trade deadline, they'll need to hunt for top-level starting pitching.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic proposed the idea of Baltimore making a trade with the Minnesota Twins to acquire right-hander Joe Ryan.
"The Orioles need an ace if they want to contend in the American League East and return to the postseason," Bowden writes.
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"Enter Ryan, who can step into that role for them. The 28-year-old righty has a 2.93 ERA this season with 47 strikeouts in 40 innings. He’s averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings and just 1.1 walks per nine. Ryan is 35-28 with a 3.84 ERA over his five-year career and has a 3.45 ERA in his past 30 starts. This season, batters have hit .189 against his four-seam fastball and .192 against his sweeper. He is under team control through 2027."
Ryan is off to a strong start with the Twins this year. In seven starts, the 28-year-old right-hander is 2-2 and owns a 2.93 ERA.
Last year, he made 23 start and posted a 7-7 record with a 3.60 ERA. Unlike Burnes, who was a one-year rental for the Orioles, Ryan is not a free agent until 2028, so he'll have three years of team control, including 2025.
If he can stay healthy, he could be a top-of-the-line starting pitcher and fill a need for the Orioles. But it ultimately depends on where the Orioles stand when the trade deadline arrives.
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