The most intriguing trade of the Mike Elias era, and one of the most fascinating transactions in team history, was August’s deal of catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox.
It was a deal that few expected, and one that might take several years to evaluate.
On August 3rd, the Orioles sent Rutschman, who was on the injured list, to Boston along with another catcher, Jake Rogers, to the Red Sox for catcher Carlos Narváez and four prospects who are ranked among MLB Pipeline’s top 30 — right-handed pitcher Anthony Eyanson (2nd), outfielder Enddy Azocar (6th), right-hander Kyson Witherspoon (12th) and outfielder Harold Rivas (25th).
Rutschman, who had been on the injured list five times in the 14 months before the Orioles traded him, had been an important symbolic piece for Elias, the team’s president of baseball operations. Elias chose him first overall in June 19th over the objections of some members of the organization, who preferred shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who Kansas City took with the second pick.
The choice looked great initially. Rutschman joined the Orioles in May 2022 after the Orioles had three 100-plus loss seasons in four years. Rutschman provided an immediate spark. The team went on a 10-game winning streak and registered a 31-game improvement, winning 83 games.
He finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, and in 2023, was an All-Star and won the Silver Slugger as the Orioles won 101 games and the American League East.
Though they were swept in three games by the Texas Rangers, the season was considered the start of great things. But after the team had an excellent first half of 2024 and Rutschman was the starting catcher for the AL in the All-Star Game, things went south for him and the Orioles.
The team limped into the postseason after Rutschman hit just .207 with a .585 OPS wit three homers and 20 RBIs in the second half. The Orioles lost two games to Kansas City in the wild-card round, then began 2025 poorly.
Rutschman played in just 90 games in 2025 due to a pair of strained oblique muscles, hitting .220 with a .673 OPS, nine home runs and 29 RBIs.
In 2026, Rutschman again made the All-Star team, his third selection, but he missed time with a concussion, left ankle inflammation and left wrist inflammation.
Elias was convinced that Rutschman wouldn’t sign an extension and with free agency looming after the 2027 season, he was dealt.
Things didn’t begin well for Rutschman in Boston since he was on the IL. He didn’t play his first game until August 11th and he later missed time with a right elbow injury. The 28-year-old played in only 99 games.
Rutschman, who was hitting .251 with a .764 OPS., eight homers and 47 RBIs at the time of the trade, hit .222 with five home runs and 13 RBIs and a .688 OPS for the Red Sox.
Boston lost two games to the Yankees in the best-of-three wild-card round. Rutschman, who’s lost each of the seven postseason games he’s played, has hit only .107 (3-for-28) in those games.
Not only was Rutschman on the injured list at the time of the trade, so was backup catcher Samuel Basallo, who played only 29 games in the second half of the season due to a right shoulder inflammation and a late-season concussion. He hit only .140 with two home runs and eight RBIs.
“I think the plan with Sam all along was never to have him be a guy that was sort of your primary catching most nights behind the plate,” Elias said after the Rutschman trade. “He’s a big guy with a big bat, and it’s a bat that can play out of the first base spot, and out of the designated hitter spot. Our plan with him was always kind of rotate him through, and have him catch more like half or fewer than half the games.
“We’re always going to need more catchers on the roster, and right now Narváez is the guy, and when Sam’s healthy, he’ll be back in the mix.”
Narváez didn’t play like “the guy.” He hit only .107 (8-for-77) without an RBI.
The Orioles have Basallo, Narváez and Yohel Pozo, who arrived in late July as catchers. Pozo hit .259 in 19 games, and went nearly a month without starting.
It’s doubtful the Orioles can depend on Narváez’s offense, even though the 27-year-old hit .241 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs and a .726 OPS in 118 games for Boston in 2025.
The Orioles have an interesting prospect in Ethan Anderson, who hit well at Double-A Chesapeake, but he played only five games at Triple-A Norfolk.
Creed Willems, who’s been in the Orioles’ organization since 2021, hit 19 home runs and had 67 RBIs at Norfolk, but he isn’t viewed as a strong defensive prospect.
Elias will probably have to trade for or sign another catcher to augment the group.
The Orioles’ prospect haul in the Rutschman deal was rated favorably by those in the industry, but none of the four prospects has played in Triple-A.
Eyanson played for the Baysox while Azocar and Witherspoon were at High-A Frederick, and Rivas only played in the Florida Complex League.
The deal might long be debated by Oriole fans, but unless Narváez rebounds in 2027, patience might be required as the prospects grow through the system over the next few years.
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