As trade deadlines nears, Twins' Joe Ryan focusing on where he is at the moment

Boston Globe

4 days ago

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'It was fun to entertain the thoughts during the All-Star break more, but seriously, since the season has been back on and I've been back with my teammates, this is all that I think about. Being present.'
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About the All-Star break: As the game's best gathered in Atlanta, Ryan hung around a bunch with Red Sox ace
Garrett Crochet
, a seemingly random pairing made more interesting by the subtext that Ryan, if traded, would be a great match for the Sox.
Turns out, they already knew each other a bit, having met during spring training via
Griffin Jax
, a Twins reliever (and another potential trade subject). In addition to being teammates with Ryan, Jax is 'a good buddy of mine,' Crochet said. They have worked out together in Arizona for parts of the past three offseasons.
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So after making that connection in Fort Myers, Fla., where both clubs train, gravitating to each other during All-Star hoopla was natural.
'Just being pitchers, we chatted a good bit,' Crochet said.
Ryan said: 'Good to see him at the All-Star Game and good to be there myself and good for him to be there. Fun to watch him do his thing.'
Ryan lived that week a version of what Crochet experienced last year. In 2024, as a member of the White Sox, Crochet was a first-time All-Star, the new guy on that grand stage, as the baseball world wondered about his future. He spent time with
Tanner Houck
and
Jarren Duran
, months before joining their team.
This time, Ryan was the rookie, so to speak, as trade rumors swirled.
Ryan said they talked about that similar dynamic 'not as much as you'd think.'
'Maybe a little bit just chatting about stuff, but nothing crazy,' he said.
Crochet said: 'He's got a good head on his shoulders. Me last year, I felt like a fish out of water when I was there. First real year back from injury, first All-Star Game, I was really young. There was a lot of [expletive] going on. . . . For me, it was a lot to deal with. But no, he's a smart guy and a good ballplayer, so I would expect he'll be wanted by a lot of clubs.'
Ryan, 29, is scheduled to not reach free agency until after the 2027 season. He owns a 2.82 ERA and 0.92 WHIP this season but won't pitch against the Sox this week.
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Anthony's new home
After slotting rookie
Roman Anthony
into the leadoff spot for a second game in a row, manager
Alex Cora
indicated he plans to leave him there.
'He's done it his whole life,' Cora said. 'I feel like now, where we're at as a team and what
Jarren
[
Duran
] is doing offensively too, we can be more creative with Jarren hitting third.'
Anthony, 21, has started at least one game in each of the top five spots in the batting order, none below that.
Choppy skies
The Red Sox endured a 'rough flight' late Sunday, with bad weather forcing a pitstop in Detroit, Cora said. The second leg, to Minnesota, featured significant turbulence. A day later,
Garrett Whitlock
still was feeling the effects, rendering him questionable for Monday's game.
'There were a lot of people banged up after that flight,' Cora said, adding later: 'Supposedly.'
Cora said he slept through it.
Easy as 1-2-3
Duran forgetting how many outs there were Sunday against the Dodgers — ending up on second base when he could have been at third — necessitated a conversation. 'We talked about it with him,' Cora said. 'He knows he [expletive] up, so don't do it again.' . . .
Rocco Baldelli
said.
Tim Healey can be reached at