Red Sox pull off jaw-dropping Adley Rutschman trade in blockbuster deal

An MLB talent evaluator was “absolutely dumbfounded” by the Red Sox’s price for Adley Rutschman, sending catcher Jake Rogers and cash to Baltimore plus a haul of top prospects — Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon, Enddy Azocar and Carlos Narvaez — plus a player to be named later or cash. Eyanson, Witherspoon and Azocar are now among Baltimore’s top-10 prospects, underscoring the steep cost. Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow defended the deal as a necessary, if uncomfortable, midseason move to improve the club. Rutschman, who has a left wrist inflammation and hasn’t played since July 18, is hitting .251/.331/.433 with eight homers and 47 RBIs in 67 games this season.