Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and his former Baltimore teammate, the Tampa Bay Rays' Bryan Baker, stood smiling on the mound together after Tuesday night's All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Baker had just recorded the final out after entering with two outs in the ninth inning of the American League's 4-0 victory.
Baker was dealt by Baltimore to the Rays ahead of last year's trade deadline and a year later has become Tampa Bay's closer, with 25 saves in 2026 to become an All-Star. The picture of he and Rutschman sharing a celebration was one of a happy reunion, but also a reminder that change is never far away -- and a sign of what might be to come for Rutschman, too.
In the American League clubhouse ahead of the game at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night, Rutschman was asked about his long-term future with Baltimore (again), specifically the prospect of signing an extension with the Orioles. His response was essentially non-committal and inspired little confidence.
“I’ve had a phenomenal experience so far with Baltimore. It’s been great. For me, you never know what’s going to happen, but I love Baltimore,” he said, according to Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner and Matt Weyrich of the Sun.
Rutschman, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2019, has one more season of arbitration eligibility left next year, before he’s due to become a free agent after the 2027 season. He’s making $7.25 million this season on a one-year deal.
Rutschman would likely command big money as a free-agent, as would fellow young star Gunnar Henderson (also without a long-term deal in Baltimore), and Rutschman could be traded in exchange for a big return should the Orioles decide to move him before he’d become a free-agent.
Contrary to the Orioles previous ownership regime of the Angelos family, under which Rutschman was drafted, Orioles owner David Rubenstein has said the team is willing to offer extensions to players.
Baltimore signed catcher Samuel Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million deal last August, shortly after his MLB debut -- a move which raised questions about Rutschman's future -- and the O's inked starting pitcher Shane Baz to a five-year, $68 million contract in March, signaling a real willingness to make deals.
But it takes two to tango. It would make sense for Rutschman or his agent to want to maintain options at this point, as an attractive trade piece or keeping the ability to choose where Rutschman wants to play -- perhaps closer to his Pacific Northwest roots -- in free agency in two years.
About the game
The Athletics’ Shea Langeliers was the American League starter at catcher. Rutschman entered in bottom of the seventh inning and soon was catching pitches from another old teammate, from college at Oregon State, the Tampa Bay Rays’ Drew Rasmussen – in what was a nice, coordinated baseball moment put in by request from Rays manager Kevin Cash to AL manager John Schneider of Toronto.
In his lone at-bat in the top of the next frame, Rutschman tbounced out to short, while facing the Dodgers’ Justin Wrobleski in the eighth.
Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice of the Yankees drove in three runs for the American League in the first inning to give the AL all the offense it needed, although the Chicago White Sox’ Miguel Vargas added a solo homer late to make it 4-0.
Ouch
The dangers of baseball, even in an exhibition...
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was hit on the left hand by a 97.6 mile per hour sinker from St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien pitch in the top of the third. The ball high-and-in clearly got away from O’Brien.
The ball appeared to hit Caminero’s bottom batting hand, and he instantly crumpled to the turf and after being seen by a trainer, got up and ran straight to the visitors’ dugout tunnel at Citizens Bank Park. An X-ray came back negative, according to the broadcast on Fox.