The Los Angeles Dodgers lost both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing before the trade deadline, and their answer was the same guy they’ve already called on twice before: Ben Rortvedt. Third acquisition in 13 months. Dave Roberts didn’t need long to explain why the front office keeps dialing the same number.
The Quote That Says It All
Speaking to reporters on a SportsNet LA broadcast, Roberts was direct about what Rortvedt brings to the table: «He’s a quirky guy, funny guy. Guys love him, he’s just a baseball rat… having him play in playoff games last year for us, certainly has that trust.»
«Baseball rat» is about as high a compliment as a manager can pay a role player. It means he lives and breathes the game, his teammates want him in the dugout, and he doesn’t need the spotlight to deliver. Roberts also made clear that the trust factor — specifically, playoff trust — is something no trade deadline can manufacture.
Why the Dodgers Needed Him, and Fast
The catching situation unraveled in stages. Will Smith has been on the injured list for nearly two months with neck disc inflammation — Roberts said on August 4 that Smith is «at least three or four weeks» away from returning, with no confirmed date. Dalton Rushing, who had stepped in as the starter, went down hours before the deadline with a partial UCL tear in his right elbow, confirmed by Roberts on August 5.
With backup options Eliezer Alfonzo and Chuckie Robinson not viewed as viable for a postseason run, the front office moved: on August 4, they acquired Rortvedt from the New York Mets in exchange for pitcher Chayce McDermott.
For anyone keeping score, this is the third time Los Angeles has brought in the same catcher in just over a year:
- July 31, 2025 — acquired from Tampa Bay
- February 2026 — claimed off waivers from the Reds
- August 4, 2026 — traded for from the Mets
His first assignment in this latest stint? Catching Tarik Skubal in his Dodgers debut on August 5 at Wrigley Field. Roberts has already indicated that Rortvedt will handle the bulk of the starts over Hunter Feduccia while Smith and Rushing remain sidelined.
The Case Isn’t Built on Regular-Season Numbers
Rortvedt’s career big-league batting average sits at .190 over 227 games — nobody is acquiring him for his bat. His 2026 Triple-A numbers with Syracuse were functional but unspectacular: .235/.319/.414 with six home runs and 26 RBI in 48 games.
The real résumé lives in October. In the 2025 postseason with the Dodgers — spanning the NLWC against Cincinnati and the NLDS against Philadelphia — Rortvedt hit .429 (3-for-7) with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI. He started the first four playoff games before Will Smith returned, and he was part of a World Series championship team.
That’s exactly what Roberts means when he says Rortvedt «certainly has that trust.» For a team chasing a repeat, a catcher who has already been in that pressure cooker and responded with a .429 average is worth more than any regular-season stat line.
