The Baltimore Orioles weren't entertaining the idea of trading Adley Rutschman at the trade deadline, but a conversation around the idea got started. Injuries and ineffectiveness of Rutschman have been one of the reasons why the Orioles' 2025 season went off the rails, and it's hard to see a path where Baltimore returns to contention in 2026 unless he proves every current doubt about him wrong.
Just as they were at the deadline, the Orioles will be a curious team to watch this offseason, and it starts with Rutschman. Rutschman was at the center of the Orioles' core that was ready to take over the American League East, but like most of the roster, there has been some regression in his game over the last years.