Historically bad start could complicate Twins pitcher Joe Ryan's trade market

Joe Ryan implodes against Guardians as trade rumors swirl

The Twins (49-52) could once again be sellers at the deadline, and Ryan, the subject of trade rumors ahead of last year's deadline and again during spring training, is one of the team's top assets.

Earlier this month, The Athletic's Twins reporter Dan Haynes wrote, "Conventional wisdom says the Twins should sell," while MLB insider John Heyman named Ryan as a veteran who could switch jerseys before the trade window closes.

One bad start isn't enough to wipe out Ryan's trade market, but it certainly won't strengthen it. According to Baseball Savant, his four-seam fastball, the most-used in his repertoire, saw a slight decrease in average velocity and was responsible for a 22.7 percent whiff rate, below its season average (27.2 percent) entering Monday.

The Guardians got to Ryan early, with the six-year veteran allowing five home runs before recording his seventh out.

Three of the six blasts were no-doubt home runs and would have left the field in all 30 MLB ballparks, per Baseball Savant, and another would have been a homer in 29-of-30 stadiums.

Shortstop Brayan Rocchio and designated hitter Rhys Hoskins started the barrage with the back-to-back jacks in the first, followed by center fielder Petey Halpin, who launched his first career home run an inning later off an 89 mph splitter left over the middle of the zone.

Second baseman Travis Bazzana took Ryan's four-seamer 385 feet to right-center field for Cleveland's fourth home run, while Hoskins gave the Guardians five after drilling a sinker to left for his second home run.

Halpin blasted homer No. 6 on a 92 mph fastball high and out of the zone in the bottom of the fourth.

With several teams potentially in the market for starting pitcher help ahead of this year's deadline, Ryan — if available — could still command a decent sum in return. But after Monday's outing, any prospective buyer must beware.