Could the Los Angeles Dodgers be on the verge of a major trade that will rattle the MLB community? As spring training approaches, the competition for a coveted roster spot among Dodgers pitchers is heating up, featuring a lineup that includes Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Edgardo Henriquez, Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius, and Kyle Hurt.
While it's still uncertain whether the Dodgers will adopt a six-man rotation, there are indications that this strategy might be implemented. If that happens, Sheehan appears to be the frontrunner, having made 15 appearances last season, with a solid record of 12 starts. On the other hand, Stone was a reliable presence on the mound in 2024, making every scheduled start until he was sidelined by a shoulder issue that ultimately led to surgery in September.
Among these talented pitchers, River Ryan stands out as perhaps the most fascinating prospect. His 2024 season began spectacularly, boasting a remarkable 1.33 ERA over four starts before injury forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery in August (https://dodgersway.com/dodgers-injury-updates-gavin-stone-river-ryan-return-timelines-revealed).
Currently, the Dodgers seem to be hoarding these once-promising or current top prospects, but they will inevitably need to part ways with some of them eventually. Keith Law of The Athletic has noted that Ryan "could be the top pitching prospect in baseball" (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7005591/2026/01/29/los-angeles-dodgers-roster-foolproof/) if he were fully healthy. This raises the question: Could he become an attractive trade asset for teams like the Twins in exchange for Joe Ryan, or the Tigers for Tarik Skubal? (https://dodgersway.com/tigers-tarik-skubal-drama-just-brought-dodgers-one-step-closer-to-pulling-off-a-trade)
Remarkably, even though Ryan did not pitch at all during the 2025 season, he managed to maintain his position within the top 10 prospects of the Dodgers' pipeline, finishing the year ranked at No. 9. Although his sample size of just 20 and 1/3 innings is limited, his fastball has earned a commendable 65/80 rating from MLB Pipeline, showcasing great potential.
During his brief tenure in the major leagues, Ryan appeared more effective at inducing ground balls than generating swing-and-miss strikes. However, his impressive 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings in Triple-A indicates that he possesses swing-and-miss capabilities, featuring a slider and curveball with significant movement — he simply needs to refine these skills for success at the MLB level.
If the Dodgers are unwilling to trade Tyler Glasnow (https://nypost.com/2025/12/13/sports/dodgers-willing-to-trade-tyler-glasnow-in-potential-mlb-offseason-stunner/) for someone like Joe Ryan or Skubal, they still hold a treasure trove of emerging talent with several years of team control, creating a wealth of options to entice teams looking to rebuild.
Acquiring either Ryan or Skubal will require much more than just River Ryan, particularly when it comes to Skubal. Nonetheless, if Ryan can deliver a few productive long relief outings from the Dodgers' bullpen, he could very well serve as a starting point in negotiations.
