Red Sox swing blockbuster trade with O's for 2019 No. 1 pick Rutschman

BOSTON -- The surging Red Sox filled their need for more production at catcher a few hours in advance of Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline by acquiring Adley Rutschman, one of the most recognizable names at the position, in a trade with the Orioles.

The five-player return haul to Baltimore is headlined by right-handed pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson, ranked No. 49 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list and Boston's No. 2 prospect. The Orioles are also getting Boston catcher Carlos Narváez, plus right-hander Kyson Witherspoon (BOS No. 4 prospect), outfielder Enddy Azocar (BOS No. 5) and a player to be named later.

Boston is also getting back catcher Jake Rogers, whom the Orioles acquired in a trade from the Tigers on Thursday.

The trade was a clear shift in mindset from recent seasons, when the Sox acted as a prospect-minded organization that was determined to build their next championship team with a strong base of homegrown talent. This often left Breslow and predecessor Chaim Bloom (now running the Cardinals' front office) hesitant to make trades for marquee players during the Trade Deadline season.

But with his club in the midst of one of its best prolonged stretches of baseball in years, Breslow flipped that philosophy on its ear by putting three of his top farm-system chips on the table to acquire Rutschman.

A week ago, Breslow was similarly aggressive in trading a rookie lefty starter the Sox had drafted and developed in Connelly Early to the Nationals for Curtis Mead. But in an unfortunate twist of fate, Mead suffered a left wrist fracture in his second at-bat with the Sox on July 27.

That setback left Breslow undaunted in his quest to add more offensive punch to a club that could get Roman Anthony (partially torn tendon, right wrist) and Mead back at some point this season.

TRADE DETAILS
Red Sox receive: C Adley Rutschman, C Jake Rogers and cash
Orioles receive: RHP Anthony Eyanson (Boston’s No. 2 prospect, MLB Pipeline’s No. 49 overall), RHP Kyson Witherspoon (BOS No. 4), OF Enddy Azocar (BOS No. 5), C Carlos Narváez and a player to be named later

Rutschman, a switch-hitter and three-time All-Star, was the first overall pick in the 2019 Draft, one of the centerpieces of an Orioles rebuild that led to their American League East title in ‘23 and a Wild Card spot in ‘24.

The last two seasons, the O’s have performed below expectations, making it possible for the Red Sox to add a player they coveted from a division rival.

During that time, Rutschman has dealt with his share of injuries, playing in 157 out of a possible 264 games.

In fact, the 28-year-old will start his time with Boston in the middle of his third IL stint this season. Rutschman started this latest trip to the IL on July 20 due to left wrist inflammation. He was on track to start a Minor League rehab assignment as early as this week, which means it shouldn’t be long before he makes his debut for the Red Sox.

There is a recent encouraging precedent for Boston acquiring a player at the Deadline who was on the IL at the time of the transaction in Kyle Schwarber, who transformed the ‘21 Sox with his production and leadership. His addition fueled the club’s postseason run to the ALCS before losing to the Astros in six games.

While Schwarber was a rental and signed with the Phillies the following March, this time the Sox get a player in Rutschman who has one more season of arbitration before becoming a free agent in ‘28.

Rutschman had abbreviated IL stints earlier this season caused by left ankle inflammation (April 11-21) and a concussion (June 19-28).

Rutschman joins a Boston team that is 23-3 since July 2 and recently completed a franchise-tying 15-game winning streak playing against his Orioles, though the catcher was out at the time. The Sox (60-51) are currently in possession of the second AL Wild Card spot and five games back in the AL East.

While the Sox have been rolling for weeks, they made a loud statement in their final three games before the Trade Deadline, sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

With Connor Wong and Narváez, who was traded to Baltimore, sharing catching duties for Boston this season, the club ranks 22nd at the position in batting average (.219), 20th in OPS (.615), last in homers (four) and 23rd in offensive WAR (0.5).

Rutschman should easily be able to boost those rankings. This season, he is slashing .251/.331/.433 with 19 doubles, one triple, eight homers and 47 RBIs. He has 30 walks and just 40 strikeouts in 67 games.

Behind the plate, Rutschman has played some of the best defense of his career this season, throwing out 16 of 43 potential basestealers, a caught-stealing mark of 37.2% that would rank as the best in his MLB career.

The switch-hitter has a .783 OPS lifetime as a right-handed hitter compared to .746 from the left side. However, this season, Rutschman has been better as a left-handed hitter (.799 OPS) than from the right side (.705 OPS).

Given that Fenway Park will be his new hitting home, those splits are promising for the Red Sox.