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The New York Yankees just got the kind of news that could swing the balance of the American League East for years to come. The Baltimore Orioles—the very team that built its identity around Adley Rutschman as their cornerstone catcher—just handed an eight-year, $67 million extension to top prospect Samuel Basallo, per MLB.com. And if you’re paying attention, that move raises the question Yankees fans have been waiting to ask: are the Orioles quietly preparing for life after Rutschman?

Orioles Send Mixed Messages

When you hand $67 million to a 21-year-old who’s played four big league games, you’re not just investing in potential—you’re making a statement about the future of the franchise. For Baltimore, that future may not include Rutschman as the primary catcher. With the All-Star on the injured list with an oblique strain, Basallo has been thrown into the fire as the everyday backstop. He’s responded with a .286 average and five RBIs in his first week.

The Orioles aren’t stupid. They know Basallo’s ceiling is sky-high, and they wouldn’t lock him up unless they believed he could be the face of the franchise. But this extension also creates an uncomfortable question: what happens to Rutschman, the guy who was supposed to be that face?

Rutschman is no stranger to highs and lows. In college, he went from batting .234 as a freshman at Oregon State to slashing an absurd .411/.575/.751 as a junior, becoming the top overall pick in the 2019 draft. His minor league climb showed flashes of dominance, with a .285/.397/.502 line across Double-A and Triple-A in 2021. But since reaching the majors, he’s been good—not great. His 2023 season (.277/.374/.435) looked like a star on the rise, but by 2024, the OPS had slipped to .709. This year, before his IL stint, he hit just .227 with nine homers across 85 games.

That’s not the production you want from a franchise cornerstone. And the Orioles just told the world they have a backup plan.

Yankees Smell Opportunity

For the Yankees, the timing could be perfect. Right now, Ben Rice has emerged as the top option behind the plate, but his defensive game lags behind Austin Wells. Wells, meanwhile, has handled pitchers well but has struggled mightily with the bat, making the position an ongoing balancing act. The situation could shift by 2026 when Paul Goldschmidt’s contract ends—Rice has the versatility to move to first base full-time, which would open the door for a true franchise catcher to take over in New York.

That’s where Rutschman fits like a glove. Even in a “down” year, he brings a switch-hitting profile the Yankees badly need. His on-base skills have remained solid, and his gap-to-gap power could turn into home run power with the short porch in Yankee Stadium. At 27, he’s not a fading star — he’s a player who might just need a change of scenery to unlock the ceiling everyone once projected.

The Yankees know they can’t afford to miss on a long-term solution at catcher. Wells’ defense is valuable, Rice’s bat is intriguing, but neither has proven they can anchor the position the way Rutschman once did in Baltimore. And if the Orioles are signaling a shift toward Basallo, New York should be first in line to test just how available their former franchise player really is.

Because if Baltimore is ready to give up on Adley Rutschman, the Yankees can’t let anyone else take advantage. The Bronx could be the place where Rutschman rewrites his story—and where the Orioles live to regret their gamble.

Alvin Garcia Born in Puerto Rico, Alvin Garcia is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on MLB. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, covering mostly MLB. More about Alvin Garcia