Samuel Basallo

[Playing Catch]

I was just going to add to the Coby Mayo thread, but I thought, what the heck...

Blocked by Rutschman at catcher. Fangraphs seems to think he's a big-league catcher come 2026/2027, where he's a good thrower and athletic receiver, but that he needs more reps, especially with blocking. As a left-handed hitting first baseman, he's close to being ready right now.

Obviously, he would require a big return, but perhaps the two teams would consider trading from areas of respective strength... Baltimore's depth of middle-of-the-order hitters, and the Brewers depth of run prevention.

Brewers get Basallo

Orioles get Quero AND
Orioles get combination of Civale and Carlos Rodriguez, or Perkins and Mears, or Luis Lara/young pitcher.

Basallo's ceiling may make him untouchable from Baltimore's perspective, and unlike Quero, isn't yet on the 40-man. He may be too good to be able to acquire without hurting the Brewers' 26-man too much.

I was fascinated by Tyler Soderstrom a couple of years ago, and Basallo reminds me a lot of Soderstrom.

[jay87shot]

Basallo would be nice but the O's aren't going to want Quero with Adley still blocking him. The only path is pitching, my guess is that if the O's trade Basallo or Mayo it will be for a big starter like Sandy Alcantara. For us to get one, it would have to be Freddy Peralta and I can't see that happening unless something bad happens. 

[BrewerFan]

On 4/29/2025 at 9:46 AM, Playing Catch said:

Brewers get Basallo

Orioles get Quero AND
Orioles get combination of Civale and Carlos Rodriguez, or Perkins and Mears, or Luis Lara/young pitcher.

Basallo's ceiling may make him untouchable from Baltimore's perspective, and unlike Quero, isn't yet on the 40-man. He may be too good to be able to acquire without hurting the Brewers' 26-man too much.

I can't imagine Civale has much value...or Carlos Rodriguez for that matter. Perkins is replacement level. 

Mears would certainly help them, but I think you're talking about Quero+Misiorowski for Basallo. Maybe you get another piece in exchange? 

If I'm Baltimore, I'd just keep him and plan for Basallo to take over for Rutschman... though the timeline is not the best. 

 

[Playing Catch]

8 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

I can't imagine Civale has much value...or Carlos Rodriguez for that matter. Perkins is replacement level. 

Mears would certainly help them, but I think you're talking about Quero+Misiorowski for Basallo. Maybe you get another piece in exchange? 

If I'm Baltimore, I'd just keep him and plan for Basallo to take over for Rutschman... though the timeline is not the best. 

 

Yeah, it's probable that the Brewers would have to give up MLB assets, which they wouldn't want to do. You are right that if it's prospects for prospects, Misiorowski for Basallo would be the template to add/subtract to.

I think the O's will find a way to keep Rutschman. But I think he'll slowly morph into a 1st baseman over the course of the next 4 or 5 seasons. At that point, you've got Basallo and Rutschman sharing two positions. That's the dream for them.

 

[Jopal78]

Why wouldn’t the Orioles just move him at the deadline in a trade for players that help their team in the long run or if they get back in the race—veterans for a playoff push? 

Thats what teams do when they have surplus players in their system, teams don’t move minor league talent simply  because they’re blocked and in exchange for spare parts. 

[Playing Catch]

43 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

Why wouldn’t the Orioles just move him at the deadline in a trade for players that help their team in the long run or if they get back in the race—veterans for a playoff push? 

Thats what teams do when they have surplus players in their system, teams don’t move minor league talent simply  because they’re blocked and in exchange for spare parts. 

Right. That's what makes the O's and Brewers poor trade partners. They kind of need the same things (MLB talent) as playoff hopefuls. If either team is trading prospects, they'll need to find the MLB parts somewhere else.

[BrewerFan]

16 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

Yeah, it's probable that the Brewers would have to give up MLB assets, which they wouldn't want to do. You are right that if it's prospects for prospects, Misiorowski for Basallo would be the template to add/subtract to.

I think the O's will find a way to keep Rutschman. But I think he'll slowly morph into a 1st baseman over the course of the next 4 or 5 seasons. At that point, you've got Basallo and Rutschman sharing two positions. That's the dream for them.

 

I wouldn't do that if I were them...I'd be focused RIGHT NOW on Gunnar and Jackson Holliday. Lock them up and...that's gonna cost them probably a billion dollars. Maybe 1.2 if they lock them both up for ~15 years, the type of extension you'd expect(especially for Gunnar).

Also...you lose way too much value moving him to 1B. Basallo, you don't know for sure if he can handle it, but you never know until they do. But just playing the odds, Rutschman will get ~35M a year probably and a LOT of his value disappears at 1B. I think Mayo will end up just as good at 1B.

I would think the best move would be that keystone duo, but if that's not feasible, he has been a key to that team.

[endaround]

Not sure how blocked he actually is. Rutschmann is 27 and a free agent in 2029. Basallo is 20 and has yet to be added to the 40 man roster. If Basallo repeats half a season at AAA next year before coming up as 2/3 catcher, he can split time with Rutschamann in 2027, and then the Orioles can trade one year of Rutschmann with a 23 year old Basallo taking over in 2028.