Red Sox acquire catcher Adley Rutschman from Orioles in deadline trade
Boston traded three prospects to Baltimore for catcher Adley Rutschman, while the Orioles receive a package that includes pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson and several other players.
Boston completed a trade with Baltimore hours before the July 31 trade deadline, sending three top prospects to acquire catcher Adley Rutschman. The Orioles will receive right-handed pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson, catcher Carlos Narváez, right-hander Kyson Witherspoon, outfielder Enddy Azocar and a player to be named later.
Red Sox president of baseball operations Chaim Breslow said the move addresses a need for production at catcher and adds a player who can contribute on both offense and defense.
"He is a proven star in this league. ... He’s a premium defender, switch-hitter. He doesn’t strike out. He walks and gets on base. He can hit for damage," Breslow said.
Breslow noted that the organization’s recent success prompted a more aggressive approach at the deadline.
"Over the last month and a half this team has demonstrated incredible resilience and relentlessness and put itself firmly in the playoff picture," he said.
Rutschman, 28, is currently on the injured list with left-wrist inflammation and is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment soon. Breslow said the Red Sox will let the team’s medical staff manage his recovery and that Rutschman is optimistic about his health.
Boston, which has gone 23-3 since early July and recently completed a 15-game winning streak, sits second in the AL wild-card race at 60-51, five games behind the AL East leader. Rutschman’s defensive performance this season includes a 37.2% caught-stealing rate, the best of his career, while his offensive numbers have dipped from his early years but show improvement as a left-handed hitter this season.