Red Sox land Adley Rutschman, flip Marcelo Mayer in trade deadline frenzy

With just over three hours remaining before Monday's 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Red Sox made their biggest splash of the season, acquiring three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles.

The Red Sox had been searching for upgrades behind the plate and in the lineup, and after hours of negotiations, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the deal shortly before 3 p.m. ET. 

The final hurdle was an extensive review of Rutschman's medicals, as the 28-year-old is currently on the 10-day injured list with left wrist inflammation.

Boston will also receive veteran catcher Jake Rogers and cash considerations in the trade, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.

The Orioles receive a significant return led by right-hander Anthony Eyanson, Boston's No. 2 prospect. Also headed to Baltimore are catcher Carlos Narváez, pitching prospect Kyson Witherspoon, outfield prospect Enddy Azocar and a player to be named later. 

Eyanson, Witherspoon and Azocar all ranked among Boston's top prospects, while Narváez remains under club control through 2030.

Rutschman, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, is a three-time All-Star, Silver Slugger Award winner and former American League Rookie of the Year runner-up. He has one additional season of club control after 2026 before becoming a free agent following the 2027 season.

Despite battling injuries this year, Rutschman earned another All-Star selection while batting .251 with eight home runs, 19 doubles, 47 RBI and a .764 OPS in 67 games. He has started 49 games behind the plate and 16 at designated hitter. Before landing on the injured list in July, he had already missed time this season with ankle inflammation and a concussion.

The switch-hitting catcher gives Boston an immediate upgrade at one of its weakest offensive positions. Entering Monday, Red Sox catchers had combined for a .615 OPS and just four home runs, both among the lowest totals in Major League Baseball.

Defensively, Rutschman remains one of baseball's elite catchers. He ranks in the 100th percentile in Caught Stealing Above Average, the 96th percentile in Fielding Run Value and the 93rd percentile in Framing.

The Red Sox expect Rutschman to return sometime in mid-August. Until then, Connor Wong and Rogers will handle the catching duties while Boston waits for its newest star to return to the lineup.

The move marks Craig Breslow's second significant trade ahead of the deadline. Last weekend, Boston acquired infielder Curtis Mead from the Nationals in exchange for left-hander Connelly Early, though Mead fractured his wrist in his Red Sox debut and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Mayer Traded

Just hours after landing Rutschman in a blockbuster deal with the Orioles, the Red Sox continued reshaping their roster by trading infielder Marcelo Mayer to the Giants for left-handed reliever Erik Miller and outfield prospect Carlos Gutierrez. 

The two-for-one swap ends Mayer’s brief tenure in Boston. The fourth overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Mayer appeared in just 114 major league games over two injury-shortened seasons. Once viewed as part of the organization’s “Big Three” alongside Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell, Mayer became a change-of-scenery candidate after struggling offensively and landing on the injured list June 26 with a stress reaction in his left forearm.

The 23-year-old hit .220 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and a 69 OPS+ in 228 plate appearances this season while splitting time between second base and shortstop. Last year, he batted .228 with a .674 OPS in 44 games. Though he showed defensive versatility, recurring injuries and inconsistent production kept him from establishing himself.

Mayer’s path to regular playing time had become increasingly crowded following Boston’s acquisition of Mead and the emergence of other infield options. According to MassLive’s Sean McAdam, some within the organization had also raised concerns about Mayer’s response to adversity and his availability through minor injuries.

In return, Boston acquires one of the more underrated left-handed relievers in baseball.

Miller, 28, owns a 2.76 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings this season and is under team control through 2029. The 6-foot-5 lefty has been equally effective against hitters from both sides of the plate, holding righties to a .183 average and lefties to a .214 mark while recording four saves.

A former fourth-round pick out of Stanford, Miller has transitioned seamlessly into a full-time relief role, posting a 2.15 ERA over his last 62 2/3 innings dating back to last season. He joins a late-inning group that already includes Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten and Tyron Guerrero.

Gutierrez, who turns 22 next month, has broken out offensively at High-A Eugene, slashing .271 with nine home runs, 45 RBIs and an .826 OPS in 83 games. Ranked as San Francisco’s No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline, the 5-foot-9 Mexico native has played almost exclusively in left field this season while showcasing his speed, converting 64 of 70 stolen-base attempts during his four-year professional career.

The Mayer deal capped another busy day for Breslow, who also acquired Rutschman from Baltimore and traded right-hander Tyler Uberstine to Atlanta for outfielder Eli White.

White, 32, is batting .233 with five home runs, 17 RBIs and a .691 OPS in 69 games this season. He provides versatility across all three outfield spots, pairing 99th-percentile sprint speed with 78th-percentile arm strength.

Uberstine, 27, made his major league debut earlier this season and posted a 3.23 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 39 innings at Triple-A Worcester. Boston had added the right-hander to its 40-man roster last November to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.