Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman checks a lot of boxes for the Pittsburgh Pirates if he becomes available at the trade deadline, but there’s one obvious catch: the clock could make any deal a lot riskier than it first looks.
Former Pirates All-Star Josh Harrison floated the idea on a recent episode of the "Bucco Territory" podcast, pointing to Rutschman as a switch-hitting catcher who could deepen the lineup and also get work at designated hitter.
That kind of fit is easy to see. Rutschman is hitting .777 with eight home runs, and his value goes well beyond the bat. Baseball Savant lists him with 3 Blocks Above Average, 4 Caught Stealing Above Average and 6 Framing Runs, all numbers that underscore how much he can help a pitching staff from behind the plate.
But the concern comes from the calendar. The 28-year-old is headed into his final year of arbitration in 2027, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Noah Hiles raised the possibility that a lockout could leave the Pirates holding a very expensive short-term piece after sending a premium prospect package to Baltimore.
"Well, if we knew there was going to be baseball next year, this is a no-brainer, and I'd be willing to give up a little something for him," Hiles said. "Probably something within my top 10, honestly, because if he plays well and likes it here, maybe just keep him. But if you give up a good prospect to get him, which is going to be required, and there's no baseball next year, you just kinda lose it."
The threat isn’t far-fetched. MLB already went through a lockout during the previous CBA cycle in 2022, and this time around the salary cap is becoming a major sticking point. That has created real uncertainty about whether part of the 2027 season, or even all of it, could disappear.
That risk matters with any player controlled beyond this season, especially one in the final year of club control. Still, the Pirates can’t let that possibility completely shut down the conversation if Rutschman is on the table.
Endy Rodríguez has been a bright spot offensively at catcher, posting a .270/.398/.472 line with four home runs in 109 plate appearances, but his defense has lagged. Rutschman would give Pittsburgh a much steadier presence behind the plate and likely push Henry Davis to Triple-A Indianapolis because of his continued offensive struggles.
If the Pirates are serious about making a playoff run, the uncertainty around 2027 may actually be a reason to get bolder, not safer. And if that means parting with a top-10 prospect for Rutschman, the argument is there to do it.
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