On June 3, 2019, my family and I headed to Camden Yards. It wasn’t to see the Orioles play; they had the day off. As season ticket holders, we had been invited to a draft day party at the now-defunct Dempsey’s. The odds were in favor of first-year General Manager Mike Elias drafting Adley Rutschman, a catcher out of Oregon State University. But there was still a chance they could go with Bobby Witt, Jr.
It was a party atmosphere at Dempsey’s that day. The weather was beautiful, the beer was cold,
The Bird was on hand to make funny faces at my almost two-year-old daughter. The Orioles weren’t supposed to lose 115 games in 2028, but they did. The number-one overall pick was the consolation prize for having to experience that travesty of a season. Elias was going to take that pick and use it to turn this franchise around. He was upfront about it. There would be losing. A lot of losing. But starting with that first pick, the future was bright.
As the draft began, the sound was turned on on the TVs throughout the bar. Elias made the first pick from inside the Warehouse, and when it was announced on TV the crowd at Dempsey’s went wild. With the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, the Orioles selected Adley Rutschman. Not long after the pick was made, Elias appeared at Dempsey’s to cheers and applause. He made a few remarks about Rutschman and the franchise’s future. After the rather quick demise of the Orioles in 2017 and 2018, things felt right again. We knew there were tough times ahead, but Mike Elias was going to lead us back to glory.
Yesterday, Mike Elias traded Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox, the Orioles’ division rival and a team they had been chasing in the Wild Card race until this weekend, apparently. The news broke while I was at work. I sat at my desk, stunned. I tried to work, but couldn’t concentrate. About a half hour after the trade was finalized, I left the office. I got into my car and just sat for a bit, answered a few text messages from people also feeling some way about the trade. Then I started to cry. Just a little bit.
It wasn’t about Adley. Or rather, it wasn’t just about Adley. There are multiple ways in which this trade demonstrates failure by the Orioles and, specifically, Mike Elias.
When the 2018 Orioles had their fire sale, run by previous GM Dan Duquette, it was sad but almost cathartic. That team was beyond awful, and it was impossible to imagine success from either the Major League team or its barren Minor League counterparts. But this 2026 team wasn’t that. Yes, they obviously have their troubles. They are not playing like a good baseball team.
But the bones are there. You can squint and see a good team. And in a particularly mediocre year for the American League, they were hanging in there. They probably wouldn’t have made the postseason, but it was close enough to try. Because this is a team that has the potential. So to go from the fringes of the playoff race to trading the face of your team is jarring, to say the least. It feels like, after what we were promised versus what has been delivered, they shouldn’t punt on yet another season even if it’s a long shot. Not to mention any setbacks for 2027.
Then there is the bigger picture. Starting with Adley Rutschman, Mike Elias was supposed to be building a dynasty. A team with the potential to reach the World Series every single year. It’s the reason we sat through 108 losses in 2019 and 110 losses in 2021. But in the end, what did Mike Elias build?
In 2022, the year Rutschman made his Major League debut, the Orioles finally finished above .500 at 83-79. As a fanbase, we accepted the trades of Trey Mancini and Jorge López because Elias had earned that trust. Everything came together in the incredible season that was 2023, and things started off well in 2024. But the team faltered after the All-Star break and stumbled into the playoffs, where they were once again swept away in the first round.
They finished 75-87 in 2025, a disappointment from start to finish. Elias made some big moves over the off-season, and I thought they’d be back to winning in 2026. So far, they haven’t been. The 2026 Orioles have been one of the most frustrating baseball teams I’ve ever watched. And they are a failure again. Mike Elias has to own that. He has to own that the team he built, starting with Adley Rutschman, is a failure. His plan is a failure. He has been running this team since November 2018, and the franchise has nothing to show for it. Instead of Adley Rutschman leading this team to the postseason, he has been sent away for more prospects who can help in the nebulous “future.”
And please note, none of this is a commentary on the trade return itself, which by many accounts is quite good. It’s about this team being set back another year (at least) without having achieved its goal once again. For that, Mike Elias should be fired. I don’t think he will be, unfortunately. Maybe I’ll be wrong.
Finally, it’s sad to see Adley go because he is a delightful player to have on our favorite team. And yes, he wasn’t going to spend his career here. But for him to go out like this is very painful. The player that helped bring us back from the abyss, on whom this franchise hung its hopes, is not going to the postseason with the Orioles in 2025. He is going to the postseason with the Red Sox, a team that has brought us so much pain over the years. Because of that it’s hard to even wish him well, this player who I loved so much.
Right now, all I want to do is forget about the Orioles for a while. Unfortunately, I have tickets to tonight’s game and telling my nine-year-old that I’m too cranky to go isn’t really an option. The starting pitcher for the Angels? Grayson Rodriguez.
Links
Red Sox-Orioles trade grades: Both teams win in bold Adley Rutschman deal – The Athletic
If you want some trade analysis without the emotional baggage, here is a breakdown that gives both teams an A.
Adley Rutschman helped Baltimore fall in love with the Orioles again. Trading him is devastating. – The Baltimore Banner
And if you want to feel some emotions about it all, here is Jon Meoli’s excellent story.
Liftoff 2.0? After sell off, Mike Elias says Orioles’ ‘future is strong,’ starting now. – The Baltimore Banner
And here are Mike Elias’s comments after he traded away Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Tyler Wells, and Dean Kremer. Is the future strong? Maybe. But I stopped believing anything Elias says awhile ago.
Red Sox Give Rutschman a New Birth in New England – FanGraphs
Over at FanGraphs, Michael Baumann (not that one) gives his analysis on the trade. The big takeaway line: [The Orioles are] well-positioned to reset for 2027…But 2027 wasn’t supposed to be Year 1 of Phase 2 of Baltimore’s contention window after two years out of the playoffs. It was supposed to be Year 5 of a perennial contender’s prime. And Rutschman’s career could not be a better microcosm for the fortunes of the team that drafted him.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have three Orioles birthday buddies, including B.J. Surhoff (62). Surhoff spent eight seasons with the Orioles, divided into two stints: 1996-2000 and 2003-05. Surhoff was a fan favorite and his trade from the Orioles to the Braves during the 2000 season was another heart-wrencher.
Also born on this day in history are former Orioles Jon Knott (48) and Jahmai Jones (29). Jones played for the Orioles in 2021, before Rutschman joined the team. But they’ll be teammates now in Boston.
On this day in 1975, the Orioles defeated the Red Sox 12-8. Starter Paul Mitchell was knocked out after just 2.2 innings, but his offense picked him up. Ken Singleton went 3-for-5 with a double and a homer. Brooks Robinson hit his 5th home run and Bobby Grich hit his 10th. Don Baylor had a five-hit game.
In 1998, Mike Mussina took a no-hitter into the 8th inning against the Tigers before Frank Catalanatto broke it up with a double. Mussina settled for a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts.
In 2005, the Orioles fired manager Lee Mazzilli and replaced him with interim manager Sam Perlozzo.
In 2006, the Orioles traded Javy López to the Red Sox for a PTBNL, who ended up being Adam Stern. So the Orioles have a history of trading handsome catchers to the Red Sox.
In 2016, the Orioles signed 21-year-old Félix Bautista. Bautista had been released the year before by the Marlins after two seasons in the Dominican Summer League. I miss that guy and hope he returns soon.
And one year ago today, the Orioles lost to the Phillies 13-3. Cade Povich allowed four runs in 5.2 innings, followed by Corbin Martin, who allowed six runs without recording an out. Someone named Elvin Rodriguez pitched the final inning and gave up two solo homers. It was his only game with the Orioles.
We’ll miss you, Adley
