The Red Sox are pushing for Adley Rutschman, and the conversations with Baltimore have reportedly picked up enough steam that a deal could be getting closer.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported at 11:24 a.m. that the two sides are moving closer to an agreement. Earlier, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com said Boston and Baltimore had discussed the Orioles catcher, while Joel Sherman of The New York Post added that the Red Sox are making a push for Rutschman. Sherman also noted that any deal would hinge in part on the medical review, with Rutschman currently out because of a left wrist issue.
Baltimore president of baseball operations Mike Elias said over the weekend the club was open-minded to talks involving Rutschman. The Orioles are 2.5 games back in the Wild Card race, but they’ve underperformed and sit four games below .500, leaving them in that awkward space between buying and selling. Baltimore has already dealt fifth starter Dean Kremer and has continued moving more aggressively, agreeing this morning to send left fielder Taylor Ward to Seattle as well.
For Boston, the fit is obvious. The Red Sox have been looking for catching help, and Carlos Narváez’s bat has not produced enough.
Rutschman would be a major upgrade. The switch-hitter is hitting .251/.331/.433 in 284 plate appearances this season and owns a .254/.342/.414 career line across nearly 2,500 plate appearances.
He also brings a reputation as an excellent defender across the board and a leader for a pitching staff.
The health piece is the real complication. Rutschman has already had three injured list stints this season, missing time with a left ankle injury in April, a concussion in June and the wrist inflammation after the All-Star Break.
He also dealt with oblique strains on both sides in 2025. Boston is expected to be thorough in its medical review, especially on the wrist, but a healthy Rutschman would be a significant addition from a division rival.
Rutschman is making $7.25 million this season and would likely land around $10 million next year, his final year of arbitration eligibility.
If Baltimore does move him, Samuel Basallo would have a clear runway to take over as the everyday catcher. Basallo is already signed long term, is viewed as an everyday player at 21, and is currently on the injured list himself. When Rutschman has been healthy, Basallo has split time between catcher and designated hitter, and keeping him behind the plate would give the Orioles more freedom to use the DH spot on other players.
In Other News...
Pete Alonso Sent A Message Orioles Fans Needed To Hear
Pete Alonsos comments offered a small measure of reassurance for Orioles fans trying to process a jarring deadline stretch. After Baltimore sent Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox, Alonso spoke to the media and said president of baseball operations Mike Elias addressed the club following the flurry of trades, trying to steady a roster that has been reshaped in a hurry. It was the kind of message a team in transition needs, especially with the Orioles sitting fourth in the AL East and trying to stay attached to the race.
The bigger question now is whether that belief holds up on the field. Baltimore has been moved into a far different spot than it was expected to occupy at this stage, and the margin for error in the Wild Card chase is getting thinner by the day. Elias may still see a path to October, but the Orioles have to prove there is enough left in the room to make that vision matter. [Read more 🡒]
Adley Rutschman Trade Hit Orioles Fans Even Harder Than Expected
The Orioles decision to trade Adley Rutschman to the Red Sox landed with all the force you would expect from moving a franchise centerpiece, but the personal detail makes it sting a little more. Rutschman was Baltimores No. 1 overall pick in 2019 and became one of the defining players of the clubs rise, appearing in 572 games and collecting three All-Star nods along with a Silver Slugger award in 2023.
What makes the moment stand out even more is how ordinary it began, with Rutschman spending time away from the ballpark alongside former Orioles teammates Colston Cowser, Ryan Mountcastle and Gunnar Henderson. For a player who had spent years as one of the faces of the organization, the timing underscored just how abruptly the next chapter began, and why this move resonated so deeply with Baltimore fans. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Catcher Shakeup Could Force A Bigger Samuel Basallo Role
The Orioles are among the clubs still sorting out the ripple effects from the trade deadline, and one of the bigger questions in Baltimore is how the catcher situation will look going forward. After adding pieces and shifting roles around the roster, the team now has to balance its lineup and defensive alignment while keeping the rest of the club steady during the transition.
Samuel Basallo is one of the names that comes into sharper focus in that mix, especially with the Orioles needing to cover more ground behind the plate than they did before the deadline. Even as the roster settles in around the new additions, Baltimores next move at catcher will be worth watching because it could determine how quickly Basallos role expands and how central he becomes to the teams plans. [Read more 🡒]