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Despite Andrew Friedman's allusions to the contrary on Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers ended up making more moves during Monday's trade deadline.
After trading for Tarik Skubal on Saturday night, the Dodgers found themselves with no other pressing needs over 48 hours before Monday's deadline. Rather, Friedman pursued marginal additions, two of which just so happened to be catchers that he's familiar with: Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia.
The Dodgers re-acquired Rortvedt from the New York Mets in exchange for right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott, who had been designated for assignment on July 31. With Will Smith still working his way back from a neck injury and Dalton Rushing heading to the injured list with a mild right elbow strain after being scratched from the lineup on Sunday, depth behind the plate suddenly became a priority.
Enter Rortvedt, who first joined the Dodgers at last year's deadline under similar circumstances, when he stepped in and took the lion's share of reps at catcher in 18 games down the final stretch of the regular season and early in the postseason while Smith was down with a broken hand. The 28-year-old left a big impression on manager Dave Roberts and around the organization for how well he worked with the pitching staff. The team waived him after the season and later reclaimed him from the Cincinnati Reds in February, but DFA'd him days later.
Feduccia, once a coveted prospect in the Dodgers farm system, was traded to Tampa Bay a year ago in exchange for Rortvedt and pitchers Paul Gervase and Adam Serwinowski. He struggled in 36 games with the Rays last season, and has been only slightly better in 2026, slashing .234/.306/.340 across 160 plate appearances in 60 games with Tampa Bay. In re-uniting with Feduccia, the Dodgers clear up their organizational logjam in the outfield by sending out minor leaguer Jack Suwinski. The Rays also included minor league pitcher Jacob Kmatz in the deal.
MLB TRADE GRADES: Analysis on every major deadline day deal
The Dodgers still have rookie Eliezer Alfonzo Jr., who started in place of Rushing on Sunday and is once again in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Chicago Cubs. Roberts told reporters that Rortvedt will be activated on Tuesday and he envisions him to step in as the starter until Smith and Rushing return.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers re-acquire two catchers at trade deadline after Dalton Rushing injury
Continue reading...
After trading for Tarik Skubal on Saturday night, the Dodgers found themselves with no other pressing needs over 48 hours before Monday's deadline. Rather, Friedman pursued marginal additions, two of which just so happened to be catchers that he's familiar with: Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia.
The Dodgers re-acquired Rortvedt from the New York Mets in exchange for right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott, who had been designated for assignment on July 31. With Will Smith still working his way back from a neck injury and Dalton Rushing heading to the injured list with a mild right elbow strain after being scratched from the lineup on Sunday, depth behind the plate suddenly became a priority.
Enter Rortvedt, who first joined the Dodgers at last year's deadline under similar circumstances, when he stepped in and took the lion's share of reps at catcher in 18 games down the final stretch of the regular season and early in the postseason while Smith was down with a broken hand. The 28-year-old left a big impression on manager Dave Roberts and around the organization for how well he worked with the pitching staff. The team waived him after the season and later reclaimed him from the Cincinnati Reds in February, but DFA'd him days later.
Feduccia, once a coveted prospect in the Dodgers farm system, was traded to Tampa Bay a year ago in exchange for Rortvedt and pitchers Paul Gervase and Adam Serwinowski. He struggled in 36 games with the Rays last season, and has been only slightly better in 2026, slashing .234/.306/.340 across 160 plate appearances in 60 games with Tampa Bay. In re-uniting with Feduccia, the Dodgers clear up their organizational logjam in the outfield by sending out minor leaguer Jack Suwinski. The Rays also included minor league pitcher Jacob Kmatz in the deal.
MLB TRADE GRADES: Analysis on every major deadline day deal
The Dodgers still have rookie Eliezer Alfonzo Jr., who started in place of Rushing on Sunday and is once again in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Chicago Cubs. Roberts told reporters that Rortvedt will be activated on Tuesday and he envisions him to step in as the starter until Smith and Rushing return.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers re-acquire two catchers at trade deadline after Dalton Rushing injury
Continue reading...
