As the MLB winter meetings get underway on Monday, it’s still too early to tell if the Boston Red Sox will add any more new arms to their starting rotation.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has already swung trades to acquire a pair of right-handers in Johan Oviedo and Sonny Gray.
One of the other righties most frequently linked to the Red Sox in recent months has been Minnesota Twins All-Star Joe Ryan.
It was recently reported that the Twins don’t plan on moving Ryan though, and it looks like Boston is pulling back on its potential pursuit of the 29-year-old.
Longtime Red Sox insider Rob Bradford reported on the topic Monday, which also included details on Boston’s links to Ryan last summer.
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The news was shared on X by 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Tyler Milliken.
“The Red Sox have drawn back on their pursuit of Joe Ryan, per @bradfo,” Milliken posted. “He also mentions that Connelly Early was never introduced by the Red Sox as part of a potential package at the deadline.”
Left-hander Connelly Early was one of the Red Sox’s top pitching prospects before making his MLB debut in September.
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The 23-year-old excelled in four regular season starts in 2025, recording a 2.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 29 strikeouts across 19 1/3 innings pitched. Early also got the nod in Boston’s do-or-die AL wild-card Game 3 vs. the New York Yankees, allowing four runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings pitched during the loss.
Featured image via John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
