The Baltimore Orioles are in the middle of a disappointing season. Many expected the Boston Red Sox’s rival to compete for the American League East title, but poor play has them 16 1/2 games out of first place.
There’s some optimism for the future, given the young roster, but the team hasn’t lived up to early hype. Baltimore recently promoted Samuel Basallo, a promising young catcher. They also signed him to an eight-year, pre-arbitration extension.
While some scouts have questioned Basallo’s ability to stick behind the plate defensively, it leaves Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman in a difficult position. Rutschman has been the team’s primary catcher for each of the last four seasons, but has only two years left on his contract, and the team appears committed to Basallo.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Rutschman would likely be on the trade block this winter, and could be wearing a different uniform next season.
Rutschman is in the middle of a down year. He’s currently on the injured list and is hitting a career-low .227 with nine home runs. He’s still avoiding strikeouts and taking his walks, but the power hasn’t been the same. He also has a very low batting average on balls in play, suggesting some positive regression.
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The Red Sox likely aren’t going to be in the running for the catcher. Carlos Narvaez has been excellent behind the plate in his rookie season, and Connor Wong is cost-controlled depth who handles the pitching staff well. That’s not to say they won’t look to upgrade across the entire roster, but a big name like Rutschman probably isn’t in the cards.
The Red Sox travel to Baltimore for a four-game series with the Orioles on Monday. It will be the final four meetings between the two for 2025. The Orioles lead the season series 5-4.
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