Rutschman trade gets sarcastic seal of approval from Red Sox fan favorite

Adley Rutschman. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Adley Rutschman trade gets sarcastic seal of approval from Red Sox fan favorite

By Nicholas Boonstra | Last updated Aug 4, 2026 4:02 PM ET

The Boston Red Sox made their intentions loud and clear on Monday, dealing a plethora of prospects at the MLB trade deadline to announce to the world that they see themselves as 2026 World Series contenders.

The problem is, not everybody agrees that those deals will actually propel the Red Sox into contention. A week after swapping Connelly Early out for Curtis Mead, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow sent a shocking package that included two of the organization's top prospects to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for former No. 1 overall pick and three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman.

In the hours since the news broke, responses have been mixed from across the Fenway faithful regarding Rutschman, who has shown some streakiness this year and was on Baltimore's injured list at the time of the trade. But on Tuesday, one Boston fan favorite chipped in with his own surprising, and only a little sarcastic, response to the deal.

Lou Merloni likes the Adley Rutschman trade

Former Red Sox utility infielder and current NESN broadcaster Lou Merloni, who is a native of nearby Framingham, Mass., took to social media on Tuesday to let the world know he's a fan of the deal to acquire Rutschman.

Deadline reaction #WalkTheDog @NESN pic.twitter.com/cg6jOhrcPr
— Lou Merloni (@LouMerloni) August 4, 2026

Speaking in one of his trademark "Walk The Dog" clips, Merloni made clear his stance that hoarding prospects is never the way to win a title.

"Well, the Sox got Adley, and I love it," Merloni stated. "You know, I really do. I think at first I was, similar to a lot of people, like, 'Wow, they gave up a lot!'"

But "Loumer," as he is known to fans, had his own tongue-in-cheek reassurance to anyone worried that the prospect haul might have been too high a price for Boston to pay.

"I buy into the coverage of the prospects at times," Merloni said. "And I've got to catch myself and realize that, every year you get the draft. I checked the rules, next year you get the draft again. And there's going to be more names that you're going to want [to be] untradeable that right now you've never heard of.

"The point is they come and go, so improve your big-league team when you can. Which is what they did."

Time will tell how the Red Sox's deadline moves will add to a roster that has won eight straight series, including an impressive sweep of the defending-champion Dodgers in Los Angeles over the weekend. If Rutschman, along with Mead and other casualties of an injury-riddled season for Boston, can come back strong and gel in time for October, few in the clubhouse will doubt their chances to make a deep postseason push.

Nicholas Boonstra

Nick Boonstra is a sports journalist who previously worked as the in-house Staff Writer for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. A lifelong Bay Stater, Nick has been a fan of the Celtics and the Red Sox since birth and, at times less enjoyably, of West Ham United Football Club since high school. Apart from sports writing, Nick has had some unforgettable experiences as a rideshare driver in Boston that are best left for another time

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