Elias on Rutschman's future with O's: 'We want him here forever'

BALTIMORE -- As the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline keeps drawing closer, rumors will continue to circulate, particularly on social media. Naturally, some will have more merit than others.

One player who has already been featured in some online speculation this summer is Adley Rutschman. Would the Orioles consider dealing the 28-year-old catcher? He isn't signed long term, and Baltimore already inked 21-year-old backstop Samuel Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million extension last August. The O's (39-44 entering Saturday) are also in a position in which their season could go in drastically different directions.

Prior to Saturday's game vs. the Nationals at Camden Yards, O's president of baseball operations Mike Elias was asked about the Rutschman trade buzz -- and he made his stance on it quite clear.

"That’s not something that’s crossed the desk or the agenda," Elias said, "and our focus, first of all, we want to get him back [from the 7-day concussion injured list], but we want to win with him here."

Not only now, but in the long term as well.

"He’s been the cornerstone basically since I’ve been here. He’s an enormous part of it," Elias said. "I wish our commitment was greater than it is. We want him here forever."

A five-year MLB veteran, Rutschman is entering his third and final year of arbitration this offseason. That means he's slated to become a free agent following the 2027 season, unless he signs an extension with Baltimore before then.

Though Rutschman had a tough second half in 2024, that was then followed by an injury-plagued '25 campaign, he has been having a bounce-back '26 season when healthy. The 2019 No. 1 overall Draft pick and two-time All-Star is hitting .254 with 15 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 40 RBIs and a .787 OPS in 54 games, while also playing terrific defense behind the plate.

Rutschman was on the IL from April 11-21 due to left ankle inflammation, and he has been on the concussion injured list since last Saturday (retroactive to June 19). He is now eligible to return and should be back in the Orioles' lineup sometime soon.

It makes sense why the O's would like to have Rutschman on their roster for a long time. The club has also shown an increased willingness to spend in recent years, notably since the David Rubenstein-led ownership group purchased the team in March 2024. The Basallo extension isn't the only deal Baltimore has gotten done, as it signed right-hander Shane Baz to a five-year, $68 million extension in March.

Could Rutschman be among the next players to ink long-term deals to stay with the Orioles? Based on Elias' comments, it sounds like something the team would be interested in.