Red Sox Fans Gutted as Ken Rosenthal Reveals Missed Chance to Land Joe Ryan in Twins Trade

Boston Red Sox fans were left shaking their heads this week after MLB insider Ken Rosenthal dropped a revelation that hit like a high, hanging curveball over the Green Monster. In a recent report, Rosenthal detailed how the Red Sox once had a legitimate shot at landing Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan—a move that could have completely reshaped the team’s rotation and, potentially, the course of the franchise.

According to Rosenthal, the Red Sox and Twins had discussions in the past that could have resulted in Boston acquiring Ryan, but the deal never came to fruition. While the exact timing of these conversations wasn’t specified, the idea that Boston was that close to acquiring a pitcher who has blossomed into one of the American League’s more reliable starters has left fans both frustrated and reflective.

Joe Ryan: The One Who Got Away

Joe Ryan has become a cornerstone of Minnesota’s rotation since joining the organization as part of the 2021 trade that sent slugger Nelson Cruz to the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander’s emergence as a consistent starter has made him a key figure in the Twins’ recent success. With his elite fastball command, impressive strikeout ability, and steady demeanor on the mound, Ryan represents the kind of young, controllable arm that every team covets—especially a team like Boston, which has endured its share of pitching instability in recent seasons.

Imagine Ryan taking the ball every fifth day in a Red Sox uniform. It’s a vision that fans are now replaying in their heads, wondering what could have been. For a franchise that has seen its rotation thinned by injuries and inconsistency, having Ryan could have been the difference between merely hanging around the Wild Card race and establishing themselves as legitimate postseason contenders.

Rosenthal’s Insight Adds Salt to the Wound

Rosenthal’s report didn’t hold back on the emotional sting for Boston fans. The respected MLB insider explained that the Red Sox had a path to acquire Ryan if they had been willing to part with the right package of prospects. This hypothetical deal, according to Rosenthal, was very much within the realm of possibility at the time, but Boston’s front office hesitated—or perhaps overvalued its own young talent.

The revelation brings up familiar frustrations for a fan base that has, at times, criticized the team’s decision-making since the 2018 World Series championship. While the Red Sox have shown flashes of competitiveness, pitching has remained a persistent concern. Watching Ryan thrive with the Twins while Boston continues to piece together a rotation has made this missed opportunity particularly painful.

What Joe Ryan Could Have Meant for Boston

Ryan’s hypothetical impact on the Red Sox is hard to overstate. He’s a durable starter with multiple years of team control, making him exactly the type of asset championship teams are built around. In a rotation currently relying on a mix of veterans and unproven arms, inserting Ryan could have stabilized things immediately.

His numbers speak for themselves. Since his arrival in Minnesota, Ryan has posted solid ERA marks, strong WHIP numbers, and a strikeout rate that consistently ranks among the better mid-rotation arms in the league. Beyond the stats, his ability to handle high-leverage starts and eat innings would have alleviated pressure on Boston’s bullpen, a unit that has been heavily leaned on due to shorter starts from the rotation.

Rosenthal’s revelation forces fans to imagine a rotation where Ryan slots alongside the team’s current arms. Even a modest upgrade in consistency could have made the difference in several close games—especially in a competitive AL East where every win counts.

A Pattern of ‘Almost’ Moves

For many Red Sox fans, this revelation isn’t just about Joe Ryan. It fits into a broader narrative that has defined recent seasons: Boston often appears on the fringe of major acquisitions but struggles to close the deal. The team has been linked to several high-profile players in rumors, only for those players to land elsewhere.

In Ryan’s case, the opportunity to secure a young, controllable starter who fits the team’s timeline was right there—and it slipped away. Rosenthal’s report adds a bittersweet layer of what could have been, and fans have taken to social media to voice their frustration. Comments range from disbelief to outright anger, with many noting that the missed trade seems emblematic of a front office caught between rebuilding and competing.

While lamenting the loss of a potential ace is easy, Boston’s front office still has a chance to reshape the narrative. The offseason and future trade deadlines will provide opportunities to bolster the pitching staff, and perhaps the lessons of the Joe Ryan near-miss will encourage a more decisive approach.

For now, though, the story serves as a sobering reminder of how one non-move can change a team’s trajectory. As the Red Sox continue to fight for relevance in a loaded AL East, the sight of Joe Ryan dominating in a Twins uniform will sting—a visual representation of a door that could have been opened, but wasn’t.

Red Sox fans can only hope the next time a similar opportunity arises, Boston doesn’t hesitate. Because if Rosenthal’s revelation proves anything, it’s that in the ever-competitive MLB landscape, sometimes the deals you don’t make define your team as much as the ones you do.