Samuel Basallo extension sets trap the Reds can’t afford to chase

Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo just became a very rich man. The O's top prospect inked an eight-year, $67 million contract extension with only four games of Major League experience under his belt. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the contract can max out at $88.5 million.

Undoubtedly, many Cincinnati Reds fans saw Basallo's extension and thought of Sal Stewart. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Reds attempt to extend their top prospect beyond his arbitration window. Much like Basallo, Stewart has put together an impressive run in the minor leagues and looks like he could be a major piece of the puzzle for the Reds moving forward.

And while the Reds should certainly explore the idea of handing Stewart a pre-arbitration contract, the one thing Cincinnati's front office can't do is inquire about the availability of former No.1-overall pick Adley Rutschman. With Basallo in the fold for the long haul, it stands to reason that Baltimore will look to trade Rutschman this coming offseason. The Reds should avoid such a trap.

Samuel Basallo extension sets trap the Reds can’t afford to chase

Make no mistake, the Orioles are locking up Basallo because of his bat. The 21-year-old backstop was in Triple-A Norfolk all season and hit .270/.377/.589 with 23 home runs, 67 RBI, and a 150 wRC+. While Basallo is known as a catcher, he's also logged time at first base and DH, so it's not a forgone conclusion that Baltimore will trade Rutschman this offseason.

If the O's decide to dangle Rutschman as a potential trade chip, however, the Reds should pass. After making a huge impression during his first two seasons in the big leagues, the 27-year-old has struggled the past two years.

Since 2024, Rutschman is hitting just .242/.315/.385 with a 98 wRC. From 2022-2023, Rutschmasn posted a .268/.369/.439 slash line with a 129 wRC+. It's quite strange that Rutschman, who was the face of the franchise just two years ago, has now become a tradable asset.

The Reds have Jose Trevino under contract for another two seasons, and Tyler Stephenson is under team control through the 2026 season. Top prospect Alfredo Duno is crushing baseballs with regularity down at Single-A Daytona, but it'll be a few years before he's able to make to the big leagues.

Catcher could (and probably should) be a position that's on the Reds' radar this offseason. But Rutschman, who's under arbitration eligiblity for two more seasons, shouldn't be on Cincinnati's short list.

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