Fresh off their World Series appearance, the Toronto Blue Jays are off to a solid start in 2026. There may be a few more moves for the Blue Jays to make in order to bolster their chances to return to the World Series.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer outlined the top potential MLB trade candidates. One name linked to the Blue Jays offers Toronto quite a bargain to improve the team’s pitching.
Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan was named an All-Star in 2025. Now, the right hander is being labeled as a top trade candidate with the Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets floated as the top landing spots, per Rymer.
“Like Isaac Paredes, Joe Ryan is not a free agent until after 2027, no matter what happens with that option,” Rymer wrote in an April 1, 2026, story titled, “The 10 Best MLB Trade Chips For 2026 Season.” “He, therefore, would not be a rental for prospective buyers.
“That’s one of his main appeals, with the other being that he’s a really, really good pitcher. Even if he ‘only’ has a 111 ERA+ to show for the last four seasons, that came with a 4.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio,” Rymer continued.
“You also get the sense that there’s more to unlock with Ryan. His command is obviously excellent. His stuff is so good that Stuff+ rated it on par with that of Dylan Cease last season.”
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Blue Jays rumors.
Blue Jays Rumors: Potential Trade Target Joe Ryan Has a $6 Million Salary With the Twins in 2026
Ryan represents a strong value with a one-year, $6.2 million contract for 2026. There is a mutual option in Ryan’s deal for a $13 million salary in 2027.
As a reminder, a mutual option requires both the player and team to agree to activate the salary. Ryan is a bargain at $19 million over the next two seasons if the pitcher agrees to stay the course in 2027.
Warriors HC Steve Kerr Penned a Letter to Blue Jays Manager John Schneider: ‘Just Watching 7 Games of Really Wonderful Leadership’
Ryan went 13-10 with 194 strikeouts and a career-low 3.42 ERA in 2025. As for Toronto’s stellar World Series run, Blue Jays manager John Schneider has a fan in Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
Schneider received a handwritten letter from Kerr offering some words of encouragement following the Blue Jays’ Game 7 loss. Kerr explained why Schneider grabbed his attention.
“To go from not knowing someone at all, to just watching seven games of really wonderful leadership,” Kerr told The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon during a March 29, story titled, “Steve Kerr explains why he penned that handwritten letter to Blue Jays manager John Schneider.” “That really made a mark on me.
“… I think most competitors just are driven by loss and failure. There are incredible instances of using that loss and that failure to rebound. And I know that’s what the Jays are trying to do this year.”
The Blue Jays take on the Chicago White Sox in a three-game series. Then all eyes will be on a World Series rematch as the Blue Jays host the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series beginning on Monday, April 6.
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