Mark J. Rebilas, John E. Sokolowski and Joe Nicholson-Imagn Pictures
I wrote yesterday concerning the Mets optioning Francisco Alvarez again to Triple-A, however lots extra catcher information broke over the weekend. We’ll begin in Baltimore, the place a left indirect pressure despatched Adley Rutschman to the injured record simply as he was beginning to appear like he had figured issues out. As you’ll absolutely recall, Rutschman was off to an incredible begin final season, however his efficiency dropped off after he took a foul ball to his proper hand on June 20. Rutschman ran a 138 wRC+ with 15 dwelling runs earlier than June 30 and a 61 wRC+ with 4 homers by way of the tip of the season. Each he and the group have steadfastly denied that the drop-off in his efficiency was associated to the hand damage, and after his ugly begin to the 2025 season, the remainder of us have been beginning to imagine them. Rutschman ran a wRC+ of 84 by way of Might 20, however in his final 23 video games, he’s been at 129:
Then on Friday, his proper aspect “flared up” throughout batting observe, to make use of the phrases of interim supervisor Tony Mansolino. “Hopefully it’s not too lengthy,” Mansolino instructed reporters. “While you play in that kind of warmth down in Tampa, and also you’re enjoying this lengthy stretch and also you’re in the midst of the season, it most likely places you at extra threat for issues like that.” On Sunday, the group introduced that an MRI confirmed a gentle indirect pressure and that Rutschman can be out at the least till the All-Star break. Which means he’ll miss at the least one month (21 video games).
That is the primary IL stint of Rutschman’s profession, and it comes when the group has no margin for error in any respect. The Orioles are 10 video games beneath .500. They’re not solely in final place within the AL East, however they’re trailing the fourth-place Purple Sox by 5 video games, and we now give them only a 4.4% probability of creating the playoffs. Since Might 20, Rutschman has put up 0.7 WAR, third-most among the many group’s place gamers. He’s an unlimited loss, however at the least within the clubhouse, nobody is resigned to promoting on the deadline. “We’re attempting to win, and we’re attempting to develop,” Mansolino instructed reporters. “I feel, if we went full-blown improvement proper right here in June, when that third Wild Card spot is floating round .500, I don’t know if that’s the appropriate determination for the Baltimore Orioles and the town of Baltimore and the followers.”
Towards that finish, the group may actually use catching assist. The Orioles have put up 0.3 WAR from the catcher place this season, which ranks twenty sixth in baseball. Rutschman has chipped in 1.1 WAR, however his contributions have been nearly totally negated by these of Gary Sánchez and Maverick Handleyeach of whom have totals preceded by minus indicators. Sánchez returned from a wrist damage 10 days in the past, and his splits are excessive: -6 wRC+ earlier than the damage and 196 wRC+ after. That’s about what you’d anticipate from him. He’s an all-or-nothing slugger who will run massive slumps and large scorching streaks, and whenever you common all of it collectively, he seems like a strong backup. When Sánchez was out, the group referred to as up Handley, and to say that he hasn’t labored out can be an understatement. Handley is 27 and final appeared on one in every of our lists of the Orioles’ prime prospects in 2022. He has gotten into 16 video games and is at the moment operating a wRC+ of -42. He has three hits. He’s putting out over 38% of the time.
In Samuel Basallothe group additionally has a blue chip catching prospect at Triple-A Norfolk. Basallo topped our Orioles prospect record in April and is at the moment ranked fifth on The Boardmaking him the highest catching prospect in baseball. Nonetheless, the group clearly doesn’t really feel he’s able to make the leap. Mansolino stated the group hasn’t even mentioned calling him up. “I don’t suppose you are taking a man like Sammy Basallo and also you convey him to the massive leagues simply because there’s a necessity,” stated Mansolino. “I feel you convey a Sammy Basallo to the massive leagues when he’s destroyed Triple-A in all sides of the sport — his at-bats, his protection, his the whole lot. So when he destroys Triple-A and he knocks the door down, to me, then he turns into a part of the dialog. I don’t personally suppose you convey a man to the massive leagues with that kind of profile till that occurs.”
Basallo is at the moment operating a 152 wRC+ with 15 dwelling runs in Norfolk, which seems loads like knocking the door down, however he’s solely 20 years previous, and he nonetheless solely has 69 video games underneath his belt at Triple-A. It’s exhausting to fault the Orioles for following no matter path they imagine will give their prime prospect the perfect probability of growing to his full potential. However meaning Handley is again up in Baltimore once more for at the least a month. This positive looks as if a time when the Orioles may go searching for an reasonably priced veteran backstop. Possibly even one who is aware of the group and its pitchers. Certainly that will be an excessive amount of to ask for, proper? Proper?!
On Sunday, The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka astutely famous that the Braves had launched catcher James McCann from his minor league deal. The identical McCann who spent the previous two seasons with the Orioles, serving as a superbly cromulent backup catcher. In line with experiences, McCann was searching for a multi-year deal this offseason, however the Orioles have been reluctant to make such a dedication as a result of presence of each Rutschman and Basallo. McCann didn’t get his deal, as an alternative signing a minor league pact with the Braves. Just a few weeks in the past, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the deal had a rolling opt-out clause, permitting any group to supply a serious league deal to McCann, at which level the Braves may both name him up or let him go.
An hour after Kostka famous McCann’s launch, Rosenthal reported that McCann had signed with the Diamondbacks. We’ll transition to the Diamondbacks shortly, however we should always shut out the Orioles part by noting simply how massive bringing again McCann may have been for the group. McCann is no person’s concept of a savior. He has a profession 82 wRC+, and his catching didn’t grade out properly final season. However he’s a veteran who has two years of expertise with this Baltimore pitching workers. He ran a 125 wRC+ within the minors for the Braves this season. He’s put up a constructive WAR in each season since 2019, and simply having a catcher whose wRC+ doesn’t begin with a minus signal can be an enormous step up for the Orioles.
We’ve got no approach of figuring out whether or not the Orioles have been additionally pursuing McCann, however even when they have been, cash can’t have been the explanation he ended up going elsewhere. McCann shall be making the main league minimal throughout his time in Arizona (and a prorated $180,000 throughout his time within the minors), and his expertise in Baltimore makes him extra useful there than anyplace else. It’s an actual missed alternative, but it surely may very well be a sign that the Orioles see issues the best way Dan Szymborski sees them: That it’s time to surrender on the 2025 season.
Now we’re on to Arizona, the place catching accidents are simply the beginning. On Friday, AJ PUK underwent inner brace surgical procedure. Final night time, supervisor Torey Vids stated in the course of the Diamondbacks’ postgame present that Corbin Carrollwho hasn’t performed since taking a sinker to his left wrist on Wednesday, was identified with a chip fracture and shall be occurring the injured record. Jay Jaffe shall be overlaying this depressing information in depth tomorrow. Right now, although, we’re going to complete by speaking about catcher Gabriel Moreno. Moreno went on the IL with a proper hand contusion on Thursday, and his stint was made retroactive to June 15. On Friday, the group introduced that the damage was truly a hairline fracture of his proper index finger. It dates again to this fluky wild pitch from June 6:
The group had been attempting to keep away from an IL stint, enjoying Moreno simply thrice over the subsequent two weeks. Amazingly, he even hit a house run throughout that stretch, however he fairly clearly wasn’t himself:
The damage is a serious blow to a Diamondbacks group that’s 7 1/2 video games again in an especially powerful NL West, and simply 2 1/2 video games out of the ultimate Wild Card spot. We at the moment have them with a 31.9% probability of creating the playoffs, however shedding a star catcher in Moreno (to not point out probably the greatest gamers within the sport in Carroll) actually, actually hurts. Ketel Mars, GERALDO PERDOMO, Eugenio Suárezand Pavin Smith are all legitimately enjoying like stars, however the Diamondbacks have one of many weaker pitching staffs within the league. This actually may very well be an excessive amount of to beat. What’s 31.9% minus Carroll and Moreno? The reply will depend on how lengthy they’re out and whether or not they appear like their previous selves after they return. Lovullo has stated that Moreno’s timetable shall be measured in weeks slightly than days, which is an ominous signal. It’s additionally tough as a result of Moreno was on tempo for the perfect season of his glorious younger profession.
In 2022, Moreno put up 0.8 WAR over simply 25 video games as a rookie in Toronto, and after being traded to Arizona for Daulton varsho over the offseason, he adopted it up with a 2.3-win 2023 season regardless of lacking 20 days because of shoulder irritation. Final season, he put up 2.5 WAR regardless of two totally different IL journeys that restricted him to simply 98 video games. Moreno has by no means run a wRC+ beneath 102, and his catching has graded out as glorious in each season of his profession. He’ll break the three-win mark as quickly as he’s capable of get a full, wholesome season, however as soon as once more, that received’t be occurring this yr. Though his 105 wRC+ wasn’t a profession greatest, Moreno had showcased a extra aggressive strategy that boosted his hard-hit fee all the best way from 41% in 2024 to 47.2%.
Backup catcher Jose Herrera is operating a 68 wRC+ over 33 video games, which is definitely a little bit of an enchancment from his profession mark. Sadly, his glove is grading out worse than it did in earlier seasons. This would appear like the right time for the Diamondbacks to convey up the 25-year-old Adrian del Castillowhom Eric Longenhagen and Travis Ice ranked second within the group in December, however accidents have derailed that risk too.
As soon as a highly-touted catching prospect out of Miami, Del Castillo fell within the draft and struggled in his first three minor league seasons earlier than exploding in 2024. His protection isn’t going to impress anyone, however he’s obtained sufficient energy to make up for it and earn a while at DH or first base as properly. Final season, he ran a 136 wRC+ with 26 homers in 105 video games in Triple-A Reno whereas dropping practically 10 share factors from his strikeout fee. When Moreno went down with an damage in August, Del Castillo obtained referred to as as much as Arizona and stored proper on hitting, operating a (very, very BABIP-aided) 146 wRC+ regardless of putting out practically a 3rd of the time over 25 video games. A shoulder damage price Del Castillo the primary two months of this season. He solely obtained again into motion in Might 20, spending 12 video games within the Arizona Complicated League then spending 5 again in Reno earlier than damage struck once more. This one appears to be much less critical, a again damage that shouldn’t price Del Castillo an excessive amount of time, however he hasn’t performed since June 15. It’s exhausting to think about calling him as much as the majors after he’s performed simply 17 video games this season, 12 of them on the advanced.
The Diamondbacks initially referred to as up the 32-year-old Aramis Garcia to fill in when Moreno went down. Garcia had been operating a 122 wRC+ with 10 dwelling runs in Triple-A, however he obtained into simply two massive league video games earlier than the Diamondbacks designated him for project and signed McCann. McCann has already reached out to former Oriole teammate Corbin Burnes to stand up to hurry on the Arizona pitching workers. “I’m the brand new man attempting to get on their web page, and that’s what I’m going to attempt to do as shortly as attainable,” he stated. MLB.com’s Casey Drottar reported that Lovullo has but to find out an official function for McCann. Given Herrera’s efficiency, it’s not exhausting to think about McCann getting important enjoying time within the considerably unlikely occasion that he continues the new hitting he confirmed in Gwinnett.
There’s no assure that McCann will carry out, but it surely’s encouraging that the Diamondbacks are doing what they’ll to verify the catcher place doesn’t find yourself as a black gap. Possibly league-average efficiency is the best possible the Diamondbacks ought to anticipate from the duo of Herrera and McCann, however discovering a veteran alternative who represents a transparent improve over what the group has ready in Triple-A is strictly the sort of transfer they need to be making as they gear up for the second half.
