Twins avoid arbitration with All-Star righthander Joe Ryan, agree on one-year, $6.2 million contract

With Major League Baseball arbitration hearings scheduled to begin on Monday, Jan. 26, the Twins settled on a one-year, $6.2 million contract with All-Star pitcher Joe Ryan.

The Twins and Ryan agreed to a $6.1 million salary for the 2026 season, and there is a $100,000 buyout on a $13 million mutual option for 2027.

Mutual options are almost always declined, and Ryan is still two years from reaching free agency. He will again be eligible for arbitration next winter, assuming the mutual option is declined.

Before the Jan. 26 agreement, Ryan was requesting a salary of $6.35 million, and the Twins countered at $5.85 million.

Ryan was the only arbitration-eligible player who did not agree to a contract earlier this month, and he subsequently did not attend TwinsFest on Jan. 23-24 at Target Field.

Ryan, who made $3 million last year, had a 13-10 record and a 3.42 ERA in 171 innings during the 2025 season while earning a spot on his first All-Star team.

The Twins have taken only three players to arbitration hearings since 2006 — Nick Gordon (2024), José Berríos (2020) and Kyle Gibson (2018) — and they won all three cases.

The Twins have about $107 million committed in their 2026 Opening Day payroll, which would be their lowest figure since 2017.

Team owner Tom Pohlad confirmed the front office has the ability to spend more money, particularly for bullpen additions.