Why Baltimore Orioles May Extend Only One Young Star Before Free Agency

The Baltimore Orioles extending Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson should be a priority., but only one may get one before free agency.

May 18, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) congratulates shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) for hitting a home run during the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson are the future of the Baltimore Orioles organization, giving the ballclub two players they should be able to rely on for a long time.

Unfortunately, while them being as elite as they are is always a positive, Rutschman and Henderson will be expensive one day.

Henderson could be looking at one of the most expensive contracts in MLB history one day. He doesn't hit free agency until he's 28 years old, so there's time before that. But it's something the Orioles will have to consider.

Would extending him now be the better plan? If things go as they have, Henderson will only be more expensive by then.

Rutschman won't be cheap, either, but catchers often don't have the same value as shortstops. He can swing it at a high level when he's at his best, but Henderson getting a bigger deal seems probable for now.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote about the possibility of extending both players before they are eligible for free agency, saying that it might be possible for Rutschman, while Henderson will likely want to hit free agency.

"The Orioles’ best player, All-Star shortstop Gunnar Henderson, is under club control for four more seasons. While an extension for catcher Adley Rutschman might be possible, Henderson is represented by Scott Boras, who generally prefers his clients – like Soto – to establish their values in free agency. Henderson would hit the open market entering his age 28 season."

Henderson's agent, Scott Boras, won't do Baltimore any favors. If Boras has shown one thing during his time as the top agent in Major League Baseball, he gets his clients paid.

Factor that in with him not wanting to have his players sign extensions before they hit the open market, and the chances of him signing one are low.

In the event that the Orioles offer him a deal he can't refuse now, it could be possible. Even then, unless it's a deal too good to pass up, it's tough to see Boras wanting Henderson to take that deal.

Locking up Rutschman for the long term would be a step in the right direction. He's arbitration-eligible, meaning he'll be a bit more expensive than he's been.

The switch-hitter doesn't hit free agency until 2028, giving Baltimore time to decide on that front.

If they wait, Rutschman could grow frustrated about the lack of a long-term deal, but the Orioles don't have to sign him just yet.

If they can get a deal done, however, they should look to do that in the near future.