The growing belief around Major League Baseball is that the Baltimore Orioles will trade former No. 1 overall draft pick Adley Rutschman during the offseason.
Could the Philadelphia Phillies take advantage of this surprise development?
What would have at one time been considered an absolutely ridiculous suggestion suddenly became not only viable, but a near certainty in the minds of many with the recent signing of top catching prospect Samuel Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million contract. It was viewed as a significant departure from the norm for the Orioles, who had not taken such a long-term, arbitration-avoiding approach with any player since 2013.
Making it even more eye-opening is the fact that Basallo had only just begun his MLB career.
Signed at the age of 16 as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in January 2021, Basallo quickly rose through the Orioles farm system, displaying his impressive hitting skills and power at every stop along the way. After slashing .270/.377/.589 with 23 home runs and 67 RBIs in 76 games for Triple-A Norfolk, Basallo was called up on Aug. 17, four days after his 21st birthday, when Rutschman was placed on the injured list with a strained right oblique.
He had only played four games when the signing was announced on Friday. It took even less time for USA Today’s MLB analyst Bob Nightengale to conclude that, in the wake of Basallo’s arrival, the Adley Rutschman era in Baltimore was nearing an early end.
“Look for him to be wearing another uniform come spring training,” Nightengale predicted.
Might that uniform be white with red pinstripes?
Phillies Uncertain Future Could Become Clear With Trade for Adley Rutschman
For the first time in several seasons, the Phillies are facing a bit of an uncertain future at the catching position. J.T. Realmuto, the team’s primary backstop since 2019, is playing the last season of a five-year, $115.5 million contract, and with Kyle Schwarber and Ranger Suarez also scheduled to hit free agency after this season, there are questions regarding the team’s ability, not to mention willingness, to commit the years and dollars to a catcher who will turn 35 in March 2026.
There’s another not-so-minor wrinkle that was recently added to Philadelphia’s situation. Just under a month ago, the team sent 18-year-old catching prospect Eduardo Tait, who was the No. 4 prospect in its system, to Minnesota along with pitcher Mick Abel for closer Jhoan Duran.
So all of a sudden, the Phillies no longer have their catcher of the future, while not sure what may happen with their catcher of the present. But as Tyler Zulli with the PHLY Sports podcast noted, the Orioles seem to have a pretty good answer for Philadelphia’s problem, especially considering that Rutschman has two more seasons of arbitration remaining.
“The Phillies are in need of a long-term catching solution. Adley Rutschman, former number one overall pick, is 27 years old,” Zulli said. “That’s about as long-term as you can get, major league ready. It’ll be interesting to see how this situation unfolds, but I wouldn’t be shocked if this offseason Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies call up the Baltimore Orioles and see what may be readily available.”
Pitching Prospect Moisés Chace Returns to Baltimore in Trade Idea for Adley Rutschman
As for what it might take to acquire Rutschman, Mark Powell of FanSided has a suggestion. In his analysis of four potential landing spots for Rutschman, Powell lists the Phillies at No. 1, noting that they “have the most obvious need at catcher, as well as an enviable supply of starting pitchers, even with the recent injury to Zack Wheeler.
Powell proposes that Philadelphia, buoyed by the presence of top prospect Andrew Painter, along with the recent drafting of first-round pick Gage Wood, could offer right-hander Moisés Chace (the team’s No. 8 prospect), Triple-A first baseman Keaton Anthony (No. 15) and Taijuan Walker, who has one season left on his current contract at $18 million.
The 33-year-old Walker has had a nice rebound season for the Phillies, making 16 starts among his 27 appearances, with a 3.44 ERA, but Chace, despite missing most of this season after Tommy John surgery, would be the long-term get, a strikeout pitcher who the Phillies acquired from Baltimore for reliever Gregory Soto in July 2024.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Orioles’ Stunning Shift Spurs Trade Pitch to Shape Phillies’ Future appeared first on Heavy Sports.