MLB field reporter Heidi Watney does not expect Orioles to trade potential SF Giants target

Since catching prospect Samuel Basallo signed an eight-year, $67 million extension last weekend with the Baltimore Orioles, the focus immediately shifted to what they might do with two-time AL All-Star Adley Rutschman. In a conversation with Around the Foghorn, MLB field reporter Heidi Watney does not expect the Orioles to move the potential SF Giants target this winter.

MLB field reporter Heidi Watney does not expect Orioles to trade potential SF Giants target

Alongside Wayne Randazzo and Dontrelle Willis, Watney served as the field reporter on Apple TV+ in Friday's matchup between the Giants and Orioles. The Giants secured a convincing 15-8 victory in a surprising display of offense at Oracle Park.

With Baltimore in town, the conversation about what the Orioles might do with Rutschman became a natural talking point. Baltimore seemingly has a long-term solution at that position now with Basallo, and Giants' everyday catcher Patrick Bailey has been one of the best defensive players in baseball, but his bat leaves a lot to be desired.

Rutschman put together back-to-back All-Star nods in 2023 and 2024, but his offensive numbers have declined in recent years. He has put up a .684 OPS with nine home runs and 29 RBI in 348 plate appearances this season. The defensive metrics still view the former top pick as an above-average catcher, and catcher is a position where teams often make the tradeoff between offense and defense.

Despite what is seemingly a down year, Rutschman offers considerable upside with two years of team control remaining after this season. For many teams, this might seem like a potential buy-low opportunity, but a league source told Around the Foghorn that if the Orioles trade Rutschman, they will set a high asking price.

Before we get started, Heidi Watney shared some interesting information about Rafael Devers. Without reopening old wounds, she said that Devers was not a problem in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse in the weeks leading up to the trade. Devers' issue was a breakdown in communication with the front office and ownership group.

If any Red Sox player had a problem with the veteran infielder's objection to learning first base, it was not publicly an issue. In fact, Watney mentioned that Devers was a beloved player in the clubhouse, and the trade caught Red Sox players by surprise. There have been many narratives that have emerged since the trade, but Watney, who served as a field reporter for the Red Sox for four years and remains well-connected to that organization, does not give any credence to Devers being an issue in the clubhouse.

So, would the Orioles trade Rutschman? Before you can answer that question, an important consideration is whether they see Samuel Basallo as an everyday catcher. Watney is skeptical, "He [Basallo] is kind of in a try position right now. A little first base, little DH, little catcher. They're not pushing him anywhere specifically because, quite frankly, as a catcher, he does not rate great defensively."

As Watney notes, the scouting reports are mixed as to whether Basallo can be an everyday catcher. You can usually look at a player's position log in the minors as a sign for how the organization views him defensively. For Basallo, he often split time at first base and catcher, which could be viewed as uncertainty of whether he is a major league catcher.

This comes back to how teams typically view catchers. They often do not like sacrificing defense for offense, and if that is the case with Basallo, first base or DH could be his long-term position. On the other hand, Rutschman has put up 28 Fielding Run Value behind the plate since he debuted in 2022. This paints him as a comfortably above-average catcher.

In addition to Rutschman's defense, Watney points to his leadership qualities and role in changing the culture in Baltimore as reasons why they may not be motivated to move him in the offseason.

"Adley's an All-Star. Adley was a top prospect, top pick, changed that team, changed the Orioles. Like their culture, their winning attitudes started with him," she said. "Brandon Hyde even said it just a couple weeks ago... I heard him talking about him [Rutschman] and just said what a leader he is. Even when he's struggling, he's still a leader."

Hyde managed the Orioles for seven seasons before his tenure came to an end earlier this year. Baltimore has underperformed, so they parted ways with the veteran manager.

When factoring in all those traits, Watney concluded, "I don't think that he [Rustchman] goes anywhere. I think that would be short-sighted of the Orioles."

On paper, Rutschman seems like a trade target for the Giants. If he was available, I would expect Buster Posey to do his homework, but that could all be a moot point if the Orioles are not interested in making a trade. It takes two to make a deal.

More from Around the Foghorn: