Red Sox Acquire Adley Rutschman From Division Rival Orioles

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly acquiring superstar catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, per Jeff Passan and Jarred Carrabis. 

The Orioles received Anthony Eyanson (BOS #2, SP), Enddy Azocar (BOS #5, INF), Kyson Witherspoon (BOS #3, SP), Hardol Rivas (BOS #17, OF), and big league catcher Carlos Narváez, with those rankings coming from MLB Pipeline.

Rutschman, 28, was the number one overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft by Baltimore. He has since been their ‘promised child,’ who seemed destined to bring playoff aspirations to life at Camden Yards. 

During Rutschman’s first taste of The Show, he dominated. In his first two seasons, the Orioles backstop racked up 9.7 bWAR, 33 home runs, 122 RBI, and received MVP votes in both seasons. 

Rutschman looked like the future, and then suddenly, he vanished. 

Over the next two seasons, Rutschman would accumulate less bWAR than he did in his introductory campaign. His swing looked slower, defensive value plummeted, and signs of life were low. 

Simultaneously, the Orioles struggled as an organization. After years of rebuilding and stocking up tons of young talent, it looked like Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, and Rutschman were destined to bring October baseball to Baltimore. 

Everything came to a screeching halt in 2025 for Rutschman and the Orioles. The team finished with a 75-87 record, and Rutschman managed 1.9 bWAR and nine home runs. 

2026 is no different in Baltimore, as the rest of the AL East has left the O’s behind. With a current record of 54-58, the Orioles were destined to be sellers at the deadline and finally cashed in on their biggest trade chip. 

For the Red Sox, this is everything. Boston fans went through a miserable start to the season, and through May, it looked like the Red Sox’s season was over before it had begun. 

The entire lineup was struggling, Brayan Bello couldn’t buy an out, and the bullpen, although a bright spot, couldn’t manage wins on its own. 

In an equal and opposite manner to the Orioles’ fall from grace, the Sox caught fire. Starting on July 3, the Red Sox won 15 straight games, putting them back into playoff contention. 

Recently, they swept the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in what Jarred Carrabis and Tyler Milliken–two Red Sox analysts–have deemed a “statement series.” The Sox are here, and they’re here to stay. 

With one of MLB’s youngest and brightest cores in Roman Anthony, Payton Tolle, and Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston general manager Craig Breslow knew he needed to go for it–and that he did. 

What will this trade mean for both teams moving forward? 

What do the Red Sox gain from this trade? 

The Red Sox, although on absolute fire, still lack catching depth on the big club and in the minor leagues. 

28-5 in their last 33 games doesn’t negate the poor performance from the duo of Connor Wong and Narváez behind the dish. Between the two of them, the Red Sox have 0.5 bWAR, five home runs, and 27 RBI on the year–that won’t play come October. 

Rutschman will likely alienate one of the two backstops, and is most definitely the Red Sox’s everyday option moving forward. 

If you’re looking for a comparison to illustrate just how daunting the difference is, see below: 

Rutschman has the clear edge in defense, ranking in the 96th percentile for fielding run value, and then widens the gap on offense. 

This year, Rutschman is back to form. He’s hitting for average, pull-side power, and he’s not chasing. 

For a player like him, it’s drastically important to stay in the zone. He’s done so at an elite rate, but the real change has come in his approach. 

Launch angle sweet-spot percentage is often a stat that jumpstarts a player’s offensive numbers. If you can hit the ball in the air with precision, on the barrel, at an elite clip, you will find success. Rutschman is back to doing exactly that, and it’s done wonders. 

This season, the All-Star backstop is slashing .251/.331/.764. Good for an OPS of .764 and an OPS+ of 115.

The Red Sox lacked certainty behind the dish, as their highest-ranked catching prospect is 27th on MLB Pipeline’s rankings. 

Rutschman doesn’t just signify a big trade; he’s Boston’s new direction. No more waiting around, no biding your time until ace Garrett Crochet or superstar youth Roman Anthony return; the Red Sox are buying into the now. 

What does that leave the Orioles with? 

What do the Orioles gain from this trade? 

The Orioles retain the most bountiful return of any trade this deadline–and it’s not very close. 

Rutschman has another year of team control remaining, and trading in division always drives prices upward. The Red Sox bit the bullet and gave Baltimore an offer they couldn’t refuse. 

The headliner of the deal, Eyanson, is a 21-year-old at Double-A. This season, between High-A and Double-A, the Red Sox #2 prospect (MLB Pipeline) has a 1.32 ERA in 68.1 innings. 

Eyanson has a big-time fastball and an even more devastating slider. Most scouts project him to be a front-line starter at the MLB level, as he adds more velocity and fills out his still-developing frame. 

One of the most intriguing parts of Eyanson’s game is his pitchability. He often resorts to more offspeed offerings than fastballs, even though he has 98 mph in his back pocket. That poise should translate well as he transitions toward an MLB debut. 

Witherspoon, the next best hurler the O’s received, hasn’t had the same results but flashes legit stuff. 

In 75.1 innings, the still-developing hurler has posted a 4.78 ERA and 78 Ks to boot. 

Witherspoon makes his money with a deep pitch mix that revolves around his 65-grade fastball. 

He’s got great deception, has a feel for every pitch in his arsenal that spans five deep, and has legit whiff potential. Although he profiles as more of a project, he’s a calculated risk for Baltimore. 

Azocar, the next piece, is a high-floor infielder with a good glove and quick feet. The O’s are going into reset mode, and players of his caliber often fit that mold perfectly. 

At a mere 19 years old, Azocar already has the muscle to post elite exit velocities, and most scouts project 20 home-run power when he matures as a hitter. 

Additionally, his glove plays well in the outfield, but best in right, and he can show glimpses of plus speed on the bases. 

Similarly to Azocar, Rivas is a high-floor player, with an even better glove and even quicker feet. This season, Rivas has a .772 OPS in rookie ball at 18 years old.

Scouts have deemed his arm one of his best tools, and expect him to stick in center field. Ceiling? 20/20 center fielder? Floor? A reason to regret trading All-Star Adley Rutschman. Rivas is a bit of a lottery ticket. 

Finally, Narváez, an MLB backstop, is the throw-in. 

He’ll help supplement the Orioles down the stretch this year, and could potentially serve them well, although this season his -0.5 bWAR is a large part of why the Red Sox felt so compelled to seek catching help.

Last year, Narváez was a great pickup for the Sox, and posted a 2.8 bWAR season. If he flops, it doesn’t hurt the O’s much. However, he does have team control, and it’s a respectable buy-low pickup. 

This year has already been full of surprising moves, and will continue to burn until the clock strikes the deadline. 

Rutschman to the Red Sox is your current highlight move. Can anyone else top it?