After the 2025 trade deadline sell-off, the Twins appear to have waved the white flag on this season. But with the group they have, they still should try to compete next year. To make clear their intentions to compete for the 2026 playoffs, they should target Adley Rutschman, of the Baltimore Orioles.

In the flurry of deadline moves, they added organizational catching depth in top-100 prospect Eduardo Tait and Enrique Jimenez. Still, questions remain at the position for the next couple of years, with Christian Vázquez‘s contract expiring this offseason and just one year of team control remaining for Ryan Jeffers. 

If things go perfectly for Tait, he could be in the bigs in 2027, but 2028 is a more likely (even then, optimistic) target for the 18-year-old slugging backstop. That doesn’t line up well with Jeffers’ timeline, but it’s perfect for Rutschman, who has two more years of control after this season. 

Why Rutschman May be Available
The 2019 first overall pick was a sensation when he came up for the Orioles in 2022. He put together a 4.9-WAR season, according to Baseball Reference, in just 113 games, and the Orioles started winning when he was called up. He continued to rake and defend, and the Orioles continued to win in 2023, making the playoffs for the first time since 2016. 

Since 2023, however, things have gotten worse for Rutschman and the Orioles. In 2024, he dropped off offensively, from very good to slightly above average, and his defensive metrics also took a dip. Baltimore got swept for the second year in a row in the Wild Card round, and everything got even worse in 2025.

The 27-year-old has been belowaverage offensively, and the Orioles fell out of playoff contention almost immediately. He has also dealt with injuries this season, after being an iron man early in his career, and is now on the injured list with an oblique injury.

With Rutschman’s injuries in the background, Baltimore extended their up-and-coming catcher, Samuel Basallo, through 2033. Given Rutschman’s going to get more expensive next season and is nearing free agency, they may move him now to get good value.

A Fit in Minnesota
While Rutschman has been on a downward trajectory, he’s still just 27 and may have elite upside—as shown in 2022 and 2023. We’ve seen him be one of the better players in the league, and one that elevates a whole organization, which is exactly what the Twins need right now. He would be an upgrade defensively over Jeffers. According to Baseball Prospectus, Rutschman has been 4.3 runs better than an average catcher (between framing, blocking and throwing) this year, and he’s never been below average. Jeffers is at -2.6 runs this year, and hasn’t been above average since 2022. Rutschman also has that extra year of control left.

Jeffers seems likely to be traded this offseason, given that he brings value offensively as a catcher and is a free agent after the 2026 season. He has shown significant defensive deficiencies both in framing and controlling the running game.

Rutschman and Jeffers will be similarly expensive next season, but the Orioles’ catcher is clearly the better overall player. If he can regain his previous offensive form and upgrade the Twins’ catching defense, he would be an extremely valuable addition for both 2026 and 2027. When you’re trying to compete but not all-in, the kind of talent he carries is a great profile to help the team overperform and get back to the playoffs. Also, with minimal expectations, it’s a great time for the team to take on a player whose stock is down.

With a fanbase that is completely disengaged from the organization, the Twins’ brass could renew excitement (and hemorrhage fewer season ticket holders than we expect)by bringing in a big name like Rutschman. Adding a player like that would signify that, while they’ve shaken things up quite a bit and need to restock the bullpen, they’re serious about giving 2026 a go, with their young core.

Putting aside your minimal expectations of this organization, should the Twins trade for Rutschman?