The Boston Red Sox went all-in at the MLB trade deadline, bringing in three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles in what they hoped would be a game-changing move. He’s got power, he’s got defense, he’s supposed to be the guy. But just weeks later, after his return from injury, things are absolutely not going to plan for the Red Sox.
The ‘Blockbuster’ That’s Already a Bust?
Kerry Miller from Bleacher Report isn’t pulling any punches, calling the catcher position a “red flag” for the Red Sox. Miller even declared, “Boston Red Sox: Catcher Spot is Still Broken,” adding that Rutschman “hasn’t been the answer at catcher that Boston was hoping for.” Ouch. You don’t trade for an All-Star and expect to hear that a few weeks later. The idea was for Rutschman to replace Carlos Narvaez, who was absolutely struggling behind the plate. Narvaez posted a rough -0.5 bWAR, a .187 batting average, and a .535 OPS in 62 games with the Red Sox. Then he went to the Orioles and got even worse, hitting a measly .095 average with a .293 OPS in 16 games, still sitting at -0.5 bWAR. Rough stuff all around.
The Numbers Don’t Lie For Boston
Here’s where it gets real for Boston fans: Rutschman’s own numbers since the trade aren’t exactly setting the world on fire. In 12 games with the Red Sox, he’s got a -0.1 bWAR, a .146 batting average, and a .499 OPS. Yeah, he’s been better than Narvaez since the trade, and by a significant margin, but Miller’s assessment still rings true: he’s a net negative right now. The Red Sox needed Rutschman to figure things out offensively, and if he doesn’t, that big trade might just end up looking like a massive mistake. That’s a brutal reality check for a team that made such a big splash. It just goes to show you that even the biggest names sometimes need time to adjust, or maybe it’s just not clicking.
Meanwhile, Back in the Emerald City…
While Boston is sweating over their catcher’s bat, here in Seattle, our guy Cal Raleigh is facing a different kind of challenge. After hitting 60+ home runs last season, Raleigh is currently on track to hit the fewest home runs ever after such a massive power year in MLB history. That’s a stat that makes you scratch your head a bit, especially when you know what The Big Dumper is capable of! It just highlights how wild and unpredictable the MLB season can be, with stars on other teams struggling right out of the gate and our own slugger trying to find his rhythm again.
So yeah, while the Red Sox are trying to figure out if their big deadline move was worth it, we’re watching Cal to see when he’s gonna unleash that power we know and love. Every game counts, and these trends, good or bad, can really set the tone. Let’s see if our guys can keep pushing forward and if Boston can dig themselves out of this catcher hole.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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