It's always an arms race in the American League East Division.
Pitching arms, that is.
The Boston Red Sox could use another one, and that's what the offseason is for.
Boston knows it'll give the ball to ace left-hander Garrett Crochet on Opening Day. But who gets the ball for game two?
Minnesota Twins righty Joe Ryan might be the answer, coming off a season with a 3.42 ERA. ESPN's Jorge Castillo suggested in a new article Friday that after the Red Sox nearly got Ryan before the trade deadline, they may actually finish the deal off now.
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That's one of two priorities shared this week at the GM Meetings by president of baseball operations Craig Breslow.
"We want someone who can start a playoff game and a bat that can produce in the middle of the order," Breslow said, via ESPN. "Exactly what shape that takes and what it looks like, we'll see."
Boston just watched its division mate from Toronto go to Game 7 of the World Series. The New York Yankees aren't going anywhere, either. And you can't discount the Baltimore Orioles or Tampa Bay Rays even after down years.
The Red Sox did make the playoffs in 2025, but to get to the next level, they do likely need another arm.
There's no telling how their season may have played out if they simply got Ryan at the deadline. But they can try to play it out in full in 2026 by pulling off a trade now.
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