The Baltimore Orioles are on the rise after installing new manager Craig Albernaz, trading for outfielder Taylor Ward, and signing superstar first baseman Pete Alonso. But what will happen with catcher Adley Rutschman?

The 27-year-old had a down year in 2025, just like the Orioles as a team. After notching a .709 OPS with 19 homers and 79 RBIs over 148 games in 2024, he posted a .673 OPS with nine home runs and 29 RBIs across 90 games this past season. Baltimore made it to the AL Wild Card Round in 2024, but finished last place in the AL East in 2025.

Rutschman was once the crown jewel of the Orioles' farm system. The franchise picked the Oregon native first overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, and he entered the big leagues in 2022. He then made the AL All-Star team in 2023 and 2024 and notched an .800-plus OPS in 2022 and 2023.

However, Rutschman has competition now. Baltimore handed rookie catcher Samuel Basallo an eight-year, $67 million contract extension on August 22, per Spotrac. The 6-foot-4, 180-pounder slashed .283/.366/.498 with 73 homers and 269 RBIs over 401 minor-league games after signing with the Orioles as an international free agent in 2021.

Basallo slashed just .165/.229/.330 with four home runs and 15 RBIs over 31 MLB games this past season, but the organization clearly has faith in him. Meanwhile, Rutschman is still scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency after the 2027 season, as the Orioles have yet to buy out his remaining arbitration years, per Spotrac.

How will this dynamic play out moving forward?

Moving forward, Baltimore can alternate Rutschman and Basallo at catcher and designated hitter. Rutschman played 73 games behind the dish and 18 games at designated hitter last season, while Basallo played 22 contests at catcher, seven at designated hitter, and two at first base.

Basallo could play first on days when Alonso is the designated hitter and/or doesn't play, which would open up the catcher spot for Rutschman. Conversely, the Orioles' A lineup could be Basallo at catcher, Alonso at first, and Rutschman at designated hitter. 

Regardless, Rutschman needs to have a bounce-back season in order to stick around long-term. If Basallo has a breakout campaign in 2026 with Rutschman struggling again, it will make the latter player expendable.

On the bright side, having multiple talented players at the same positions is a good problem for Baltimore to have as it attempts to win its first playoff game since 2012 next year.