Red Sox land All-Star Adley Rutschman from Orioles in AL East trade stunner

In a stunning deal that marks the end of a failed rebuild in Baltimore, the Orioles are trading catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox Monday, Aug. 3, a rare intra-division deal for a three-time All-Star, ESPN first reported.

Rutschman, 28, was the first overall pick in 2019, chosen over prep shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. as the Orioles’ reward for a 115-loss season that prompted the hiring of now club president Mike Elias. Through two more 100-loss seasons, Elias continued collecting elite draftees and building what appeared to be a sustainable and potentially imposing youth movement.

While the Orioles won 101 games and the AL East in 2023 and 90 games and a wild card spot the next season, they were 0-5 in postseason games over that two-year span and have badly regressed the past two seasons, entering the trade deadline 54-58 and 2 ½games out of a wild card berth.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox have been baseball’s hottest team for a month, winning 23 of their past 26 games to gain a firm grasp on the AL’s No. 2 wild card spot. It’s a stunning rise after the Red Sox started 10-17 and fired manager Alex Cora.

Adley Rutschman was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Orioles, but he will aim to win his first playoff game with the Boston Red Sox.

Now, they will upgrade one of the most offensively inept positions on their roster, although Rutschman is currently on the injured list with left wrist inflammation. Elias said Friday that Rutschman should be ready to embark on a rehab assignment this week.

Rutschman, a switch-hitter, will enhance the offensive production provided mostly by Carlós Narvaez and Connor Wong; Red Sox catchers have combined to bat .219 with just four home runs, fewest in the major leagues.

Talk about an upgrade: Rutschman has a career .756 OPS, 115 adjusted, and hit a career-best 20 home runs in 2023. He has been dogged by injuries since midseason 2024, but has shown much better this season, earning an All-Star nod after a strong first half. He’s also a net positive behind the plate, enabling the Red Sox to hew to their run prevention mantra while providing a sentient offensive presence in the lineup.