Orioles trade Adley Rutschman to division rival

This is a bit of a coup for the Red Sox in more ways than one. Not only is Rutschman a former No. 1 overall pick, but they also beat out the New York Yankees for his services. Catcher was also a clear need for Boston, as Carlos Narvaez has provided very little offense this season and Connor Wong’s defense is regarded as something of a liability.

Rutschman never quite became the superstar it appeared he would be when he debuted with Baltimore as a No. 1 overall pick. He is, however, a good all-around catcher who has consistently provided above-average offense at the position. He has hit .251 this season with eight home runs, but injuries have limited him to 157 games dating back to the start of the 2025 season.

The Red Sox are the hottest team in the American League. They are 28-5 in their last 33 games and are fresh off a road sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have vaulted themselves firmly in playoff position, and are clearly going for it this season.