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 — for the third time in 13 months. Dave Roberts didn’t need long to explain why the front office keeps going back to the same catcher.
The Quote That Says It All
Speaking to reporters on a press conference aired by SportsNet LA, Roberts was direct: «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 one of the best compliments a manager can give 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 perform. But Roberts also zeroed in on something no trade can manufacture: postseason trust, earned the hard way.
Why the Dodgers Needed Him — Fast
The catching situation unraveled in slow motion, then all at once. Will Smith has been on the injured list for nearly two months with cervical disc inflammation. On August 4, Roberts said Smith is «at least three or four weeks» away from returning, with no confirmed timeline. Hours before the deadline, Dalton Rushing — who had stepped in as the starter — was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in his right elbow, confirmed by Roberts on August 5.
With backup catchers Eliezer Alfonzo and Chuckie Robinson not considered ready to carry a postseason contender, Los Angeles moved quickly. On August 4, they acquired Rortvedt from the New York Mets in exchange for pitcher Chayce McDermott.
For anyone keeping track, this is the third time the Dodgers have brought him in:
- July 31, 2025 — acquired from Tampa Bay
- February 2026 — claimed off waivers from Cincinnati
- August 4, 2026 — traded for from the Mets
His first assignment on this latest stint: catching Tarik Skubal’s debut as a Dodger on August 5 at Wrigley Field. Roberts has already made clear that Rortvedt will get the majority of starts over Hunter Feduccia while Smith and Rushing are sidelined.
The Case for Him Isn’t in the Regular-Season Numbers
Rortvedt carries a .190 lifetime batting average across 227 major-league games — nobody’s confusing him for a lineup centerpiece. His 2026 numbers at Triple-A Syracuse with the Mets were functional: .235/.319/.414 with six home runs and 26 RBI in 48 games. Solid, not spectacular.
The real argument is October. In the 2025 postseason with the Dodgers — spanning the NLWC against Cincinnati and the NLDS against Philadelphia — Rortvedt went 3-for-7 (.429) with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI. He started each of the first four postseason games before Smith returned, and he was part of the World Series championship club.
That’s exactly what Roberts means by «certainly has that trust.» For a team built to repeat, a catcher who already handled playoff pressure and hit .429 doing it is worth more than any regular-season stat line.
