A Downward Spiral: Baltimore Orioles’ Tumultuous 2025 Season and the Uncertain Future of Adley Rutschman
The 2025 MLB season has turned out to be a major letdown for the Baltimore Orioles. What began with championship aspirations and playoff dreams has devolved into a nightmarish campaign filled with injuries, inconsistent play, and deep questions about the team’s direction moving forward. Despite having a core of young talent that once inspired confidence and excitement across the league, the Orioles currently sit in last place with a disappointing 44-56 record as of late July.
While the team has battled adversity on several fronts, injuries have been particularly damaging, derailing both the pitching staff and the offense. The situation has prompted fans, analysts, and insiders to wonder just how far the Orioles have fallen and whether dramatic changes may be necessary—especially when it comes to some of the franchise’s biggest names. One of those names under scrutiny is none other than Adley Rutschman.
Injuries and Underperformance Derail a Once-Promising Season
Entering the 2025 season, the Orioles were seen as a serious contender in the American League. With a youthful, talent-laden roster headlined by players like Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, and of course, Rutschman, the franchise appeared ready to build on its previous years of progress. However, the season has not played out according to script.
Injuries have been one of the defining narratives of Baltimore’s campaign. The team has seen its pitching rotation and bullpen decimated by health issues, while the lineup has also taken several hits. Most notably, Adley Rutschman—arguably the face of the franchise—has missed significant time due to an oblique strain he suffered in late June. Rutschman landed on the injured list on June 21, and he hasn’t played since.
Prior to the injury, Rutschman was already struggling to meet the lofty expectations set during his first two seasons. In 2025, his batting average has hovered at .227, with only eight home runs and 20 RBIs. These numbers represent a significant drop-off from the form he displayed in his early career. The struggles have fueled speculation about his long-term role with the team.
Ken Rosenthal Weighs In on Rutschman’s Future
On a recent episode of the “Foul Territory” podcast, veteran MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic raised eyebrows by discussing the possibility that the Orioles could entertain trade offers for Rutschman in the near future. While he emphasized that such a move isn’t something he’s heard from team sources, Rosenthal didn’t dismiss the notion out of hand.
“Under the current circumstances, would the Orioles consider extending him long-term?” Rosenthal pondered. “There’s been a lot of discussion about that in the past—people saying, ‘You’ve got to get Adley signed, lock him up.’ But if he’s not going to be the cornerstone type of player you expected, maybe you reevaluate. Maybe you even look at trading him in the offseason. I don’t expect that to happen, but the Orioles have other players coming up. There’s no doubt about that.”
Rosenthal’s comments were speculative, but they highlighted an undercurrent of concern about Rutschman’s recent trajectory. Once seen as an indispensable building block, Rutschman now faces growing uncertainty about his standing within the Orioles’ organization. The idea of trading a former top prospect and franchise face would have been unthinkable just a year or two ago. But things have changed.
Rutschman’s Early Stardom and Recent Decline
When Adley Rutschman arrived on the major league stage in 2022, he made an immediate impact. As a rookie catcher, he demonstrated leadership, elite defensive skills, and offensive potential. His performance helped turn the Orioles from basement dwellers into postseason hopefuls. In 2022 and 2023, Rutschman earned back-to-back All-Star selections and appeared to be a franchise-defining player.
He carried that momentum into the early part of the 2024 season, putting up strong offensive numbers through the first couple of months. However, he faded significantly down the stretch. By the end of 2024, Rutschman’s final line showed a .250 batting average, 19 home runs, and 79 RBIs—solid, but not superstar-level production.
Fast forward to 2025, and his numbers have dipped even further. Injuries have played a role, of course, but so too has a drop in consistency and power. These struggles, combined with the Orioles’ current place in the standings, have led many to wonder if a pivot might be in order.
Financial Realities and Organizational Depth
Adding more complexity to the situation is the Orioles’ financial strategy. General Manager Mike Elias has developed a reputation for caution when it comes to spending. The team has largely avoided massive long-term contracts and has focused on building through the farm system. That approach has yielded promising results, as the Orioles boast one of the most highly regarded minor league pipelines in baseball.
However, it also means that Elias will have to make some tough decisions when it comes to which players deserve big contracts and which ones don’t. With young stars like Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday emerging as franchise centerpieces, they are likely to be the priorities when it comes to long-term extensions. If Rutschman continues to underperform relative to expectations, the front office may choose to invest elsewhere.
Adding to that dynamic is the presence of top prospect Samuel Basallo, a catcher and first baseman who is rapidly ascending through the Orioles’ system. Basallo’s combination of power, plate discipline, and defensive tools make him a potential successor to Rutschman. If the organization feels confident in Basallo’s ability to take over behind the plate in the near future, they might view Rutschman as expendable—especially if it allows them to address other roster needs via trade.
A Return on the Horizon?
Despite the speculation, there is still hope that Rutschman can right the ship. Reports indicate that he is close to returning from his oblique injury and could be activated as early as this weekend. If he can return to form and produce at a high level during the final two months of the season, the narrative could shift significantly.
Rutschman’s return comes at a time when the Orioles are still technically alive in the playoff race. As of Wednesday, they sit 8.5 games out of a wild-card spot—a daunting but not insurmountable gap. A strong push in August and September, led by a rejuvenated Rutschman, could revitalize the fan base and give the front office something to think about heading into the offseason.
But make no mistake: time is running out. The Orioles are at a crossroads, and how they finish the 2025 season will likely have a major impact on the decisions made during the winter.
The Bigger Picture: A Franchise at a Turning Point
For the Orioles, 2025 represents a sobering reality check. After a few years of exciting progress and rising expectations, the team has been brought back down to earth. Injuries, underperformance, and organizational uncertainty have created a murky outlook for the future.
Still, not all is lost. Baltimore remains rich in young talent, and the team’s long-term outlook is far from bleak. The key will be identifying which players are essential to the rebuild and which ones are not. That’s where Adley Rutschman’s situation becomes so intriguing.
If the Orioles believe that Rutschman’s best days are still ahead of him and that his recent struggles are just a bump in the road, then extending him could still make sense. But if they believe his ceiling has lowered—or that they have a cheaper, more productive replacement waiting in the wings—they may have no choice but to explore trade options.
Weighing the Possibilities: To Extend or Trade?
The debate over whether to keep or trade Rutschman comes down to several factors:
1. Performance – Can Rutschman bounce back and return to the level of play he displayed in 2022 and 2023? Or is his recent slump a sign of things to come?
2. Health – Will he be able to stay on the field consistently, especially given the physical demands of the catcher position?
3. Contract Demands – Will he be seeking a large extension, and would the Orioles be willing to meet those demands?
4. Depth at Catcher – Does the emergence of Samuel Basallo make Rutschman expendable?
5. Team Needs – Could trading Rutschman bring in valuable pitching or outfield depth?
Each of these questions carries significant weight, and the answers will determine whether Rutschman remains an Oriole in 2026 and beyond.
Fan Sentiment and the Emotional Toll
Beyond the numbers, Rutschman holds a special place in the hearts of Orioles fans. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft and symbolized the start of a new era in Baltimore. For many fans, he represents hope and loyalty—a player who helped drag the team out of its darkest years.
Trading Rutschman would not only be a strategic baseball decision but also an emotional one. The front office would need to weigh the potential backlash against the possible gains. It’s a delicate balance, and one that could define Elias’ legacy as GM.
The Final Stretch: What’s at Stake?
As the Orioles head into the final weeks of the 2025 season, all eyes will be on Adley Rutschman. His return to the field could either reignite the team’s playoff hopes or serve as a final audition before a pivotal offseason. Every at-bat, every throw from behind the plate, and every interaction with teammates will be under scrutiny.
For now, the team and its fan base must navigate an uncertain present while trying to build a brighter future. The path forward won’t be easy, but it will be fascinating to watch.
In the end, the Adley Rutschman question is about more than just one player. It’s about identity, philosophy, and the difficult choices that come with trying to win in today’s Major League Baseball landscape. Whether he stays or goes, Rutschman’s fate will say a lot about where the Orioles are headed—and how soon they can get back to being the contender they were supposed to be.
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