There was a time not long ago when one name electrified the Orioles—an All-Star catcher poised to be the cornerstone. The star buzzed through the lineup with ease, becoming the face of the team overnight. Now? Things have taken a hard left. A once-bright beacon has dimmed, and the Orioles’ decision to lean on the star—or let someone else supplant him—has sparked a new front in the “what went wrong” debate.

The Orioles began the season hopeful. Yet their magic has faded—slumping offense, mounting injuries, and a farm system going through awkward urgency. Adley Rutschman, once a revered two-time All-Star, has become a glaring concern instead of an anchor: Adley Rutschman’s bat faltered, the star’s body betrayed, and the lineup of the team looks unsteady in his absence. Fans expected more; what they are seeing now is wildly underwhelming.

This is where the plot thickens: the Orioles just handed 21-year-old rookie Samuel Basallo a record-breaking eight-year, $67 million extension—before he would throw his first big-league pitch. Such a vital move puts Adley Rutschman’s future front and center—specifically, now that the star is on his second stint on the injured list with an oblique strain, batting just .227/.310/.373 this season.

You could be wondering: Is this just finances or strategy? The always blunt David Samson laid it bare: “You are not signing Samuel Basallo to a deal 8 years 67 to watch him play first base and DH. It’s not happening. You’re doing it so he can catch. And you’re not going to do it when you’re gonna pay 7, 8, 9 million to Rutschman. Why would Mark Elias make the decision that this is the person to go after? Michael Elias, excuse me. Do you know why Mike Elias did it? And it makes perfect sense to me because when you’ve got Rutschman, guess who his agent is? I’ll give you like one second cuz we have so much to cover. One second. SB initials. Boris Corp. Boris. Nobody. Anybody?… Adley Rutschman is now an overpaid arbitration-eligible player… if he doesn’t get non-tendered, you can bet your sweet Bippy he’s going to get traded”. Samson’s tone cuts through the corporate spin—this is related to finances, expectation, and ruthless roster planning.

The repercussions? Long-period tension. If Adley Rutschman can not reclaim form and stay healthy, the team will be navigating a fresh thought process: a promising fan favorite potentially phased out mid-career. However, Basallo’s rise is quick—not just fast-tracked, but a signal of the team betting on youth over legacy. In the season’s final weeks, the Orioles are not just managing injuries—the team is steering its future.

And in such a time, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale thinks that Adley Rutschman is a near lock to be playing somewhere else in 2026, and the Mets need to take a hard look at potentially acquiring the two-time All-Star.

Could Adley Rutschman be the Mets’ outcome to two looming issues?

The Mets’ 2026 outlook is clouded by two vital concerns: the durability of Francisco Alvarez and the contract status of Pete Alonso. Alvarez’s recurring injuries and stalled enhancement have cast doubt on his long-term future behind the plate, while Pete Alonso’s impending opt-out looms as a powerful team-altering decision.

This is where Adley Rutschman enters the interaction. Despite a down 2025 season (.227/.310/.373 with 9 HR and 29 RBI), the star provides versatility, experience, and cost-control that the Mets crave. Adley Reutschman could stabilize catcher, transition to first base if Pete Alonso departs, and serve as a productive DH, enabling the Mets to allocate resources elsewhere.

Trading for Rutschman would not come cheap; however, the star’s profile fits a team seeking a reliable core piece amid uncertainty. For the Mets, he is not just a fallback—he could be a bridge to a more balanced and sustainable roster.