Bye, bye birds? O's prez hopeful team can retain C Adley Rutschman

Is Adley Rutschman available at the trade deadline if the Baltimore Orioles hear an offer they like?

When questions about the catcher's future with Baltimore came up Friday afternoon, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias didn't say yes. He didn't say no, either.

"We've put ourselves in a position where we've got to be pretty open-minded here as we go into these talks," Elias said. "But Adley is one of the best things we have going for us."

The "talks" Elias references aren't deadline discussions per se, but contract conversations likely to dictate whether the Orioles believe they can make Rutschman, 28, an offer he wouldn't refuse.

Rutschman has one year of arbitration remaining. He's playing on a one-year, $7.25 million contract in 2026 and can become an unrestricted free agent following the 2027 season.

A .251 hitter with eight home runs in 2026, Rutschman has been limited to 67 total games and is currently on the injured list. He hit .277 with career highs of 20 home runs and 83 RBIs in 2023 and had 19 homers, 21 doubles and 79 RBIs in 2024 before playing in just 90 games last season (nine home runs, 29 RBIs).

Rutschman, already a three-time All-Star, has reportedly drawn interest from several American League teams. That includes East division rivals in the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, USA Today and ESPN reported.

A switch-hitter currently recovering from a wrist injury, he is set to hit Saturday and would begin a rehab assignment next week barring any setbacks, Elias said.

--Field Level Media