What if the Orioles turned their All-Star catcher into a blueprint for acquiring a top-tier starter? League sources say that path is now on the table for Baltimore.
Adley Rutschman, once untouchable in Charm City, is increasingly viewed as a trade chip, and his value could unlock the arm the team desperately needs.
Last season underscored Baltimore’s glaring pitching weakness. The Orioles ranked 26th in MLB with a 4.61 ERA and allowed 788 runs, according to team pitching records. They pushed deep into their young rotation without a clear No. 1 starter, and the front office knows it will take a meaningful upgrade to compete in the AL East.Enter Rutschman. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, celebrated for his switch-hitting bat, elite defense and leadership behind the plate. But his 2025 line was a disappointment:.220 average, nine home runs, 29 RBIs and a.673 OPS across 90 games. Statcast data shows a hard-hit rate of 38.6% and barrel rate of 7.5%, both slipping from prior years.
What altered the calculus is the emergence of Samuel Basallo, the 21-year-old catcher under an eight-year/$67 million contract. Basallo’s arrival gives Baltimore the luxury of viewing Rutschman as more than just their everyday backstop. Many believe that the combination creates the flexibility to move Rutschman if the return is right.
That return could be a starter — and not just any starter.
Rutschman is the type of player that would bring back a front-line starter, maybe even a Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, viewed as a must-move arm if Detroit fails to extend him, and Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins, who is listed among the top trade candidates this offseason. If Baltimore believes this is the window, Rutschman provides the kind of centerpiece value that could tip the scales.
If the Orioles are willing to trade from strength, this may be the first time Rutschman’s name is on the table. But only if a team offers front-line pitching. For a franchise desperate to fix its rotation, that could be the beginning of a bold shift.
