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ESPN: Orioles raid Red Sox in Adley Rutschman MLB trade deadline deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Orioles gave up on one rebuild and started another.
At the expense of the Boston Red Sox, ESPN reported.
Apparently desperate to fill an organizational void at catcher, the Red Sox on Monday allowed their AL East rivals to raid their farm system for the opportunity to land Adley Rutschman, their catcher of the future, and Jake Rogers, a long-term backup backstop option. They also got cash.
For their MLB trade deadline effort, ESPN tagged the Red Sox with a C+.
They simply gave away too much top-tier talent, insiders suggest.
In return for catcher stability, the Red Sox, who entered Monday 28-5 since June 25, unloaded three of their top five prospects, right-handed pitcher Anthony Eyanson (No. 2), outfielder Enddy Azocar (4) and right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon (5). Catcher Carlos Narvaez and a player to be named later were included in the blockbuster deal.
ESPN awarded the Orioles an A grade.
MORE: MLB trade deadline tracker: Live rumors, news, updates before 2026 deadline
The Orioles, who received a disappointing mark in the earlier deal involving Taylor Ward on Monday, rebounded by raiding the Red Sox's organization. The Orioles jettisoned an injury-riddled franchise cornerstone targeting free agency after 2027 and inherited two top-tier pitching prospects and an elite young outfielder.
The Orioles were confident Samuel Basallo was primed to take over the No. 1 catching role, making Rutschman, the 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick, expendable. For many Orioles fans, it marked the end of a rebuilding era that peaked with a 101-win campaign in 2023, but failed to produce a World Series title.
Rebounding from a slow start last spring, the Red Sox entered Monday with eight straight series wins. Rutschman remains on the injured list with a wrist injury, but is expected back in about a week. The three-time All-Star endured three IL stints this season.
The Rex Sox (60-51) remain the hottest team in the big leagues, winners of five straight. They remained five games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays and were four games up in the AL Wild Card chase. They open a series against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday.
Monday's blockbuster deal signals the Red Sox's future is now.
ESPN just didn't agree with Monday's all-in transaction.
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