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There is a chance Will Smith could miss the remainder of the 2026 season with an inflamed disk in his neck. If that is the case, the Los Angeles Dodgers need to be prepared to take on the postseason without the three-time World Series champion catcher.
Jun 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Smith has missed five weeks with the neck injury and will not return until at least the end of August.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters they do not know if Smith will be able to return at all this season but they are hoping he can get back in time for the postseason.
“We don’t know,” manager Dave Roberts said to reporters on Friday ahead of the Dodgers’ series against the New York Yankees, “but we are certainly counting on it.”
The MLB trade deadline is on Aug. 3. Therefore, the Dodgers will not know for certain if Smith will be back this season before the deadline passes.
Dylan Hernandez of the California Postsaid Los Angeles needs to trade for another catcher at the deadline. As of now, the Dodgers have been relying on Dalton Rushing as the primary catcher and Eliezer Alfonzo as the backup.
Hernandez named former Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt as a top option for Los Angeles to target at the deadline. The Dodgers traded for Rortvedt at last season’s deadline, and he went on to play in four postseason games during the team’s World Series championship run.
Oct 1, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt (47) fields a throw to make an out at home plate against the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth inning during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“If president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman trades for a catcher the caliber of, say, Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman, what do they do if Smith returns as expected? Even if Smith doesn’t come back this season, or comes back in a diminished capacity, what would happen next year? Rutschman would still be under team control.
“Ben Rortvedt could be a more practical option,” Hernandez wrote.
Rortvedt is currently playing for Mets’ Triple-A affiliate. Although his offense is not as dominant as Smith’s, Rortvedt’s familiarity with Dodgers’ pitchers would be a big advantage in the postseason.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The post Dodgers Could Reunite With World Series Champion Catcher Amid Will Smith Injury Concerns appeared first on LA Sports Report.
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Jun 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Smith has missed five weeks with the neck injury and will not return until at least the end of August.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters they do not know if Smith will be able to return at all this season but they are hoping he can get back in time for the postseason.
“We don’t know,” manager Dave Roberts said to reporters on Friday ahead of the Dodgers’ series against the New York Yankees, “but we are certainly counting on it.”
Dodgers Need to Trade For Another Catcher At The Deadline
The MLB trade deadline is on Aug. 3. Therefore, the Dodgers will not know for certain if Smith will be back this season before the deadline passes.
Dylan Hernandez of the California Postsaid Los Angeles needs to trade for another catcher at the deadline. As of now, the Dodgers have been relying on Dalton Rushing as the primary catcher and Eliezer Alfonzo as the backup.
Hernandez named former Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt as a top option for Los Angeles to target at the deadline. The Dodgers traded for Rortvedt at last season’s deadline, and he went on to play in four postseason games during the team’s World Series championship run.
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Oct 1, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt (47) fields a throw to make an out at home plate against the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth inning during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“If president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman trades for a catcher the caliber of, say, Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman, what do they do if Smith returns as expected? Even if Smith doesn’t come back this season, or comes back in a diminished capacity, what would happen next year? Rutschman would still be under team control.
“Ben Rortvedt could be a more practical option,” Hernandez wrote.
Rortvedt is currently playing for Mets’ Triple-A affiliate. Although his offense is not as dominant as Smith’s, Rortvedt’s familiarity with Dodgers’ pitchers would be a big advantage in the postseason.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The post Dodgers Could Reunite With World Series Champion Catcher Amid Will Smith Injury Concerns appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Continue reading...
