The Boston Red Sox traded three of their top five prospects and a major-league catcher to the Baltimore Orioles to acquire three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman according to a report by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.
Included in the stunning package were the Red Sox’ top two pitching prospects, as rated by MLB Pipeline.
The package heading to Baltimore consists of right-handed pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, outfielders Enddy Azocar and a player to be named later.
Speier reported that the Red Sox would receive backup catcher Jake Rogers in addition to Rutschman, who is currently injured.
The Globe reporter added that “just to be clear, (Harold) Rivas is not in the deal.” Initial reports of the Rutschman trade named Rivas as included in the Red Sox prospect package.
The trade was finalized Monday about three hours before the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.
Rutschman, 28, remains under contract through the end of this season, but is under club control for 2027 as well, and he offers both offensive production and elite framing behind the plate. The Orioles faced ongoing uncertainty about extending their former organizational cornerstone and chose to move him in exchange for young talent spanning multiple years of competitive development and organizational depth. Baltimore prioritizes controllable pitching and long-term positional prospects in the deal while Boston consolidates a position that had been offensively weak even throughout the team’s current hot streak, as they have gone 28-6 since June 25.
The Pitching Prospects Boston Surrendered
GettyThe Boston Red Sox have traded for Adley Rutschman, formerly of the Baltimore Orioles.
Anthony Eyanson stands as the crown jewel of the package. The 21-year-old LSU product was drafted 87th overall in 2025 and signed for $1.75 million, neatly double his slot value, signaling Boston’s confidence in his ceiling.
Eyanson posted a 1.32 ERA across 68.1 innings between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland with 94 strikeouts. He earned SAL Pitcher of the Month honors and Futures Game selection. His fastball sits mid-90s and touches 100 mph, complemented by a plus-plus slider that generates consistent empty swings. He projects as a potential mid-rotation starter with an ETA around mid-2027.
Kyson Witherspoon, also 21, arrived as Boston’s first-round pick (15th overall) in 2025 after a standout Oklahoma junior season that produced a 10-4 record with 124 strikeouts. The 6-foot-2 right-hander signed for $5 million. In his High-A debut at Greenville, Witherspoon worked through mechanical adjustments implemented by Boston’s organization but demonstrated high-end velocity (94-99 mph) and multiple breaking pitches throughout the season. Despite an uneven first pro year, his ceiling projects as high as a frontline starter, with a late-2027 timeline for readiness, per MLB Pipeline.
Youth, Depth, and Major-League Insurance
GettyCatcher Carlos Narvaez was traded by the Red Sox to the Orioles.
Enddy Azocar, 19, broke out in 2026 after struggling in 2025. The Venezuelan outfielder posted a .295 average at Low-A before earning promotion to High-A Greenville. Ranked No. 5 in Boston’s system by Pipeline, Azocar displays five-tool potential with legitimate center-field upside and 20-plus home run projection.
Carlos Narvaez, 27, provides immediate major-league depth. The catcher finished sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2025 after establishing himself defensively with excellent pitch framing and game-calling. He has dealt with an offseason knee surgery but offers the Orioles established catching depth or a platoon option while Boston consolidates resources around Rutschman’s superior offensive profile.
The deal clears up any doubt that the Red Sox are in win-now mode after recovering from being 14 games under .500 as recently as June 24, to nine games over today. By parting with two high-upside starting pitching prospects, another top-5 organizational prospect plus Rivas, their No. 17, and a major-league catcher in Narvaez, the Red Sox are expecting Rutschman to produce at a premium position where elite defensive talent commands premium value in any market.
Named to the American League All-Star team this year, Rutschman remains on the injured list, but is expected to be ready by mid-August.
Red Sox Sacrifice Top 2 Pitching Prospects to Land Adley Rutschman