A surprising name who could be on the trade block this offseason is Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman.

If the Orioles do decide to move on from the 2019 first-overall pick, the Pittsburgh Pirates are considered one of the top destinations, according to Bleacher Report’s Zach Rymer, who lists the Bucs 10th in his top landing spots.

Rutschman burst onto the scene as a rookie with the Orioles in 2022, finishing the year with a .254/.362/.445 batting line, 35 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs and 42 RBI. The switch-hitter followed his debut season by earning a trip to the All-Star Game the following season and finished ninth in the American League MVP race after hitting .277 with an .809 OPS, 31 doubles, one triple, 20 home runs and 80 RBI.

Rutschman returned to the Midsummer Classic in 2024 after slashing .275/.339/.441 with 12 doubles, 16 home runs and 59 RBI during the first half, of the season but the backstop scuffled during the second half.

In 58 games after the All-Star Break, Rutschman hit just .207 with a .585 OPS and three home runs. The struggles to end the season have carried over into 2025.

In 85 games this season, the 27-year-old carries a .227/.310/.373 batting line, all of which are career-lows. He’s power numbers and run production have both dropped drastically with only nine home runs and 29 RBI.

Injuries have hammered the Orioles catcher this season. He was sidelined for over a month earlier this summer with a left oblique strain. He landed back on the injured list on Thursday with a right oblique strain.

Despite his offensive struggles, he remains a staunch defender behind the plate. In 374 career games at catcher, Rutschman has accumulated 33 defensive runs saved, including nine this season, and his 23.4% caught stealing rate is his highest since his rookie year. He’s also in the 75th-percentile in pitch framing this year.

Despite his defensive prowess, the Orioles have seemingly put their faith in another option to be their catcher of the future, leading many to believe a trade of Rutschman is likely.

Samuel Basallo, who is considered one of the game’s top prospects, made his MLB debut earlier this season and has appeared in nine games with the Orioles. Baltimore showed its commitment to the 21-year-old by signing him to an eight-year $67 million extension that has a club option for a ninth season.

Looking at the Pirates catching situation, they’ve primarily relied on two guys this season. Henry Davis, who likes Rutschman was a No. 1 pick, has turned himself into a strong defensive catcher but is hitting just .178 with a .558 OPS in a career-high 69 games.

Joey Bart, meanwhile, has given the Pirates more offensively than Davis with a .245/.350/.315 batting line, hasn’t been the same player he was in 2024. He doesn’t grade as well behind the plate as Davis does either.

In addition to Davis and Bart, the Pirates have Endy Rodríguez, who is once again on the 60-day injured list due to another arm injury.

In their search to improve the offense, taking a chance on Rutschman in hopes he can return to an above-average contributor with the bat in his hands is an intriguing proposition.

Rutschman is making $5.5 million this season and will be arbitration-eligible two more times before reaching free agency after the 2027 season.