Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer recently made a surprising prediction: the Baltimore Orioles could trade star catcher Adley Rutschman to the San Francisco Giants.
“It’s no secret that the 27-year-old has been declining, especially at the plate,” Rymer noted. “And with top catching prospects like Samuel Basallo and newly drafted Ike Irish in the pipeline, Rutschman is more expendable than before.”
Rymer added that a trade likely wouldn’t happen unless Rutschman returns from his oblique injury by the July 31 trade deadline—and performs well. “If that happens, no team should be more interested than the Giants,” he said. “Is it a long shot? Definitely. But it hits that sweet spot between ‘intriguing’ and ‘just realistic enough.’”
There’s a lot to consider with this scenario.
The Giants—led by president of baseball operations Buster Posey—have been among MLB’s most aggressive teams lately, pulling off moves like the Willy Adames signing and Rafael Devers trade. It wouldn’t be surprising if Posey pursued a big-name catcher to succeed him in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the Orioles could be open to moving Rutschman if they’re confident in Basallo, who’s currently at Triple-A and considered the catcher of the future.
Still, trading Rutschman feels like a major gamble. He’s been a core part of Baltimore’s success, and despite his recent struggles, it’s hard to imagine the team giving up on him so soon.
Ultimately, while the idea is bold and thought-provoking, Rutschman probably isn’t going anywhere.
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