Red Sox Acquire Adley Rutschman; Pirates Land Luke Weaver in MLB Trade Deadline

The Boston Red Sox landed catcher Adley Rutschman and Jake Rogers from the Orioles for a four-player package during the 2026 MLB trade deadline.

The Boston Red Sox acquired catcher Adley Rutschman, catcher Jake Rogers, and cash from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for right-handed pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, outfielder Enddy Azocar, and catcher Carlos Narvaez. Rutschman joins Boston while hitting .251/.331/.433 with eight home runs and 19 doubles through 67 games in 2026. Despite his current stint on the injured list with left wrist inflammation, the 28-year-old backstop maintains elite plate discipline and defensive metrics. His offensive production includes a 1.067 OPS recorded in April, though he has hit .218 since that opening month.

Baltimore receives a significant prospect haul led by Eyanson, a third-round pick out of LSU who posted a 1.69 ERA and a .152 opponent batting average in Double-A. Witherspoon, the 15th overall selection in the previous year's draft from Oklahoma, and Azocar, a 19-year-old hitting .286/.341/.540 in Class A, also head to the Orioles. This move allows Baltimore to transition to Samuel Basallo behind the plate as they move on from Rutschman, who previously finished 9th and 12th in MVP voting during his first two major league seasons.

Pirates Bolster Bullpen with Luke Weaver

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired right-hander Luke Weaver from the New York Mets for shortstop Sammy Stafura. Weaver arrives in Pittsburgh having allowed just one earned run since the start of May, pitching to a 0.28 ERA over 30 appearances. While his season ERA sits at 1.84, Weaver brings veteran stability to a bullpen featuring lefties Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto alongside righties Yohan Ramirez and Camilo Doval. The Pirates are taking on the remainder of Weaver’s $22 million contract, which extends through the 2025 season.

New York receives Stafura, a 21-year-old utility prospect who was previously a top-30 player in the Pirates' system. Stafura was originally acquired by Pittsburgh from Cincinnati in the Ke'Bryan Hayes trade. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns used this deal to offload salary while adding a runner with average power who can play multiple positions. The Pirates made this aggressive move despite injuries to key offensive contributors Konnor Griffin and Ryan O'Hearn.

Padres Add Robbie Ray for Rotation Depth

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller acquired left-hander Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-hander Miguel Mendez and shortstop Joniel Hernandez. Ray joins the Padres rotation after posting a 10-6 record with a 3.08 ERA for San Francisco. Over his last eight starts, Ray maintained a 1.09 ERA and surrendered only one home run in 49 1/3 innings. However, his 4.36 FIP and a walk rate that ranks 115th out of 122 qualified pitchers suggest potential regression.

The Giants received Mendez, the Padres' No. 7 prospect, who has a 4.79 ERA in 12 Double-A starts and can reach 100 mph on his fastball. Hernandez, a 17-year-old shortstop, was San Diego's top international signing in 2026 at $1.4 million. This trade addresses a Padres staff that had been relying on JP Sears and Kyle Hart behind Michael King.

Cubs and Dodgers Secure Pitching Help

The Chicago Cubs traded for left-hander Braxton Garrett from the Miami Marlins, sending infielder Jonathan Long and right-hander Jace Beck to Florida. Garrett, who posted a 128 ERA+ in 2023, recorded a 2.27 ERA in Triple-A through July 18 before allowing 13 runs in his final two minor league starts. Long, a 24-year-old corner infielder, provides Miami with a high-floor bat, while the 6-foot-9 Beck offers relief potential due to his extension and splitter.

In Los Angeles, the Dodgers acquired left-hander Kris Bubic from the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Carlos Duran. Bubic is currently earning $6.2 million and is nearing free agency while recovering from a lingering shoulder injury. Duran, 25, returns to the Royals system as a sinker-ball reliever with a standard four-pitch arsenal.

Finally, the Tampa Bay Rays landed catcher Liam Hicks from the Marlins for a package including infielders Brayden Taylor and Adrian Santana, plus right-hander Jacob Kisting. Hicks, a left-handed hitter with four years of team control remaining, provides Tampa Bay with an offensive upgrade at a position where they have struggled to find production.