Assessing Baltimore's catching options with Rutschman, Basallo sidelined

BALTIMORE -- Only eight days ago, the Orioles had perhaps the best offensive catching duo in MLB with Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo. Now, with both backstops on the injured list, Baltimore’s production from the position has gone down considerably.

Their absences were felt quite a bit during Sunday’s 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Braves at Camden Yards.

The O’s offense failed to score with the bases loaded and no outs amid a tie game in the 10th. Then, Sam Huff grounded out to third base to end the contest, leaving the bases full and sending the Orioles (51-55) to a series loss as Atlanta took the rubber game.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the 11th, the Braves intentionally walked Jackson Holliday -- putting the potential tying run 90 feet away from home plate and the potential go-ahead run in scoring position -- to get to Huff, who is now hitting .121 (4-for-33).

Over Baltimore’s past seven games, the catching duo of Huff and Chadwick Tromp have gone a combined 1-for-24 (.042). Tromp is 1-for-14 with six strikeouts -- his lone knock being a fifth-inning single in Friday’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Braves -- and Sam Huff is 0-for-10 with eight strikeouts.

“We’ve battled injuries all year, and guys have to step up,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Either guys that are taking over that position, or other guys on the team.”

Neither Rutschman (left wrist inflammation) nor Basallo (right shoulder inflammation) seems close to returning. Rutschman is eligible to come off the 10-day IL on Wednesday, but the 28-year-old All-Star’s only baseball activity this weekend was throwing in the outfield without catching. The 21-year-old Basallo, who is eligible on Thursday, has been shut down the past few days to let the inflammation subside.

It would be hard for any catchers to fill the roles of Rutschman and Basallo.

“They're not being asked to be Sammy. They're not being asked to be Adley,” first baseman Pete Alonso said. “What they're doing is they're calling a great game, giving professional at-bats, and that's really all you can ask for. We're not trying to replace people and, ‘Hey, you've got to be someone you're not.’”

Still, the Orioles may want to consider other options, with only six games to play before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline and the club in the thick of the American League Wild Card hunt.

Here’s a look at the possibilities.

1. Give Yohel Pozo a chance
A 29-year-old Venezuelan with 106 games of MLB experience for the Rangers and Cardinals, Pozo was claimed off waivers by the O’s on Thursday, six days after he was designated for assignment by St. Louis. Baltimore often has an extra catcher on its taxi squad, and Pozo filled that spot on Sunday, when he reported to Camden Yards.

Pozo hit .233 with nine doubles, five home runs, 24 RBIs and a .616 OPS in 85 games for the Cardinals over the past two seasons.

It’s not a flashy move or decision, but Pozo has enough tools that he’s at least intriguing.

2. Call up catching prospect Creed Willems
Willems, Baltimore’s No. 17 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has impressed with his bat at Triple-A Norfolk this season, hitting .256 with two doubles, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs and a .773 OPS over 73 games.

There are two concerns, though. Firstly, the 23-year-old’s long-term future might not be at catcher, as his defense may be a downgrade from both Huff and Tromp. Secondly, Willems has played only five games for Norfolk since returning from a left hamstring injury that caused him to miss a little more than two weeks earlier this month.

“With Creed, we want him to be healthy. Obviously, coming off the injured list, that's first and foremost,” Albernaz said on Saturday. “We don't want to thrust a player in the Minor Leagues that's been on the Minor League IL just because we have spots open, per se, up in the big leagues. We want to be right by them. So, just like anything, we always look at all of our players, keep track of all of them, and if there's a fit, there's a fit.

“But right now, it's making sure Creed is getting what he needs in Norfolk."

3. Trade for a catcher before Aug. 3
If the Orioles are set on buying -- which may still be up in the air, depending on how the next week goes -- their top priority should be adding to their bullpen. They could also target a starting pitcher or an infielder.

But it could behoove Baltimore to flip a lower-tier prospect for a catcher, especially if Rutschman and/or Basallo don’t progress well in their recoveries over the next handful of days.

It seems unlikely the O’s would swing big for a catcher such as the Rockies’ Hunter Goodman or the Twins’ Ryan Jeffers. The hope is Rutschman and Basallo both return. Plus, Rutschman is under contract for 2027, while Basallo inked an eight-year, $67 million extension last August.

However, the Orioles could aim for a smaller target on an expiring contract (perhaps somebody like the Reds’ Tyler Stephenson) to serve as a short-term catching solution.