The Boston Red Sox made their move for catcher help on Monday, but ESPN wasn’t sold on the price.
In a deadline blockbuster, the Red Sox landed Adley Rutschman and Jake Rogers, plus cash, while sending three of their top five prospects to Baltimore: right-handed pitcher Anthony Eyanson, ranked No. 2, outfielder Enddy Azocar at No. 4, and right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon at No. 5. Catcher Carlos Narvaez and a player to be named later also went in the deal.
ESPN handed Boston a C+ for the transaction, arguing the club gave up too much high-end talent to solve its catching situation. The Orioles, by contrast, got an A.
Baltimore’s side of the deal looks like a clean pivot. The Orioles moved on from an injury-plagued franchise piece who was headed toward free agency after 2027, and in return added two premium pitching prospects plus a young outfielder with impact upside. They also got the kind of catching stability they were looking for.
The logic on Baltimore’s end came down to Samuel Basallo. The Orioles believed he was ready to take over as their No. 1 catcher, which made Rutschman available. For Orioles fans, it also felt like another chapter closing on a rebuild that had once looked like it was heading toward the top, especially after the 101-win season in 2023 that still ended without a World Series title.
Rutschman, the 2019 No. 1 overall pick, is currently on the injured list with a wrist injury, though he’s expected back in about a week. He’s also dealt with three IL stints this season.
Boston, meanwhile, keeps rolling. The Red Sox entered Monday 28-5 since June 25, had won eight straight series after a slow start last spring, and came into the day as the hottest team in the majors with five straight wins. At 60-51, they sat five games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays and four games up in the AL Wild Card race.
They’re set to open a series against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday.
The message from the Red Sox’s blockbuster was clear: the future is now. ESPN just didn’t love how much Boston paid to get there.
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