Joe Ryan reacts to fake Red Sox trade at 2026 All-Star media day
DIRECT ANSWER: Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan addressed last year's bizarre Red Sox trade rumor at 2026 All-Star Game media day, saying the viral false alert reached his phone but he never received an actual trade call. The Boston deal never happened, and Ryan remains central to Minnesota's playoff push as he heads to his second straight Midsummer Classic.
Key Takeaways
- MLB on Fox briefly posted on X during last year's deadline that Boston had acquired Joe Ryan from Minnesota; the post was deleted minutes later.
- At All-Star media day, Ryan said friends called asking if he had been traded, but he never got a team call about a move.
- ESPN reports a 55% chance the Twins trade Ryan before the 2026 deadline, listing nine possible teams—Boston is not among them.
- Ryan entered the 2026 break at 2.85 ERA with 3.3 fWAR, tied with Seattle for the third AL Wild Card spot.
- His deceptive sub-94 mph fastball remains one of baseball's best heaters despite hitters knowing it is coming.
What Was the Bizarre Red Sox Trade Rumor About Joe Ryan?
During the final hour of last year's MLB trade deadline, the baseball world briefly believed Joe Ryan had been dealt to Boston. MLB on Fox issued a "breaking news" alert on X stating the Red Sox acquired the Twins ace. Minutes later, the post vanished.
The moment joined a long list of bizarre news stories that spread faster than facts on social media. Red Sox fans had already linked Ryan to their rotation for weeks, and even verified accounts amplified the confusion before anyone confirmed a completed trade.
It was not true. Ryan stayed in Minnesota—one of the few survivors after the Twins' deadline teardown—and Boston settled for smaller pitching additions instead.
How Did Joe Ryan React at the 2026 All-Star Game?
FanSided's Adam Weinrib asked Ryan about the viral moment during All-Star Game media day on Monday. Ryan's answer was blunt and lightly amused.
"It reached my phone. I got a couple calls," Ryan said, according to Puckett's Pond. "People were asking if I had gotten a call yet about being traded or something. But I didn't."
The exchange underscored how trade-deadline noise can outrun reality. Ryan earned his second straight All-Star nod anyway, posting a 2.85 ERA, a 28.4% strikeout rate, and a 5.6% walk rate across 110 1/3 innings and 20 starts before the break.
Why Are the Red Sox Already Joe Ryan Losers This Year?
A year after nearly landing Ryan—and briefly celebrating a deal that never closed—Boston finds itself on the outside looking in. Yahoo Sports Canada reported that while Ryan is not untouchable, the Red Sox have no reason to pursue him now.
Boston's miserable 2026 season has pushed the club toward selling rather than buying. ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel gave Ryan a 55% chance of moving before this year's deadline, naming nine possible landing spots that include AL East rival Toronto. The Red Sox are not on the list.
If last summer's trade had gone through, Ryan might have stabilized a rotation that instead spiraled without him. He never arrived at Fenway Park, and Boston fans are left wondering what might have been.
Why Does Joe Ryan's Deceptive Fastball Still Dominate Headlines?
Beyond trade chatter, Joe Ryan is drawing attention for what hitters cannot solve. According to MLB.com, batters know his fastball is coming and still cannot square it up.
Ryan averages only about 93 to 94 mph, yet his four-seamer ranks among baseball's best thanks to an unusually low arm slot paired with high-riding movement. He throws from a release point lower than nearly any qualifying starter while placing more than a quarter of those pitches in the top third of the zone.
That deception helps explain why Minnesota acquired reliever Tommy Nance rather than selling at the deadline. The Twins appear focused on winning with Ryan on the mound, not shopping their ace while they sit one game below .500 and tied with Seattle for the third American League Wild Card berth.