Cubs popular trade target may be gone thanks to Twins’ surprising stance

Just ahead of the Winter Meetings, the Minnesota Twins may have taken a popular Chicago Cubs' trade target off the market. Dating back to the MLB trade deadline last July, the Cubs have been linked to Twins' All-Star starting pitcher Joe Ryan, and there was an expectation that the two sides would continue trade conversations next week in Orlando.

As it turns out, Ryan may not even be available. ESPN's Buster Olney offered his own primer on Major League Baseball's offseason, talking through the storylines to watch over the next week. When it came to Ryan, Olney was told by rival teams that Minnesota hasn't shown an inclination to talk about a potential trade of the 29-year-old starting pitcher, suggesting that their preference is to hold onto him.

With two years of control, it's worth pointing out that Ryan's situation is quite different from Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. The Twins aren't in a position where they have to trade him or risk letting him walk next offseason.

Joe Ryan, a popular Cubs' trade target, may have just been taken off the trade market.

It's also worth reminding that everything should be taken with a grain of salt during the offseason. When a rumor surfaces, the best thing to do is think about who benefits the most from this information. In this case, it's very clearly the Twins.

With there being an overwhelming expectation that after their fire sale at the deadline, Ryan would be on the move this winter, Minnesota simply could be playing a leverage game. In other words, float the idea that they want to hold onto Ryan with the hope that it increases the intent from interested teams and they up their trade offer.

Entering the final two years of arbitration, it would make sense for the Cubs to explore a potential trade for Ryan. It would nearly deplete the top of their farm system, but they would have more than enough money for their pursuit of Alex Bregman. For what's worth, a signing of Bregman would, in theory, make it plausible for Matt Shaw to be included in a potential trade.

Trading for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher hasn't exactly been at the forefront of discussion for the Cubs, but it likely is among the scenarios that will be worked through next week at the Winter Meetings.