Dodgers News: Dodgers’ Catching Depth Thins as Mets Claim Ben Rortvedt
Rortvedt heads to Queens after L.A. placed him on waivers earlier this week.
LOS ANGELES, CA—After the Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed veteran right-handed relief pitcher Evan Phillips to a 1-year, $6.5 million deal last week, the team had to DFA recently reacquired catcher Ben Rortvedt.
Now, for the second time this offseason, the Dodgers have lost Rortvedt on waivers, this time to the New York Mets, who announced that they claimed the 28-year-old catcher.
Rortvedt was one of the few players acquired by the Dodgers at the 2025 trade deadline, coming in via a three-team deal with the Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays, which also sent longtime minor league catcher Hunter Feduccia to the Rays.
Following late-season injuries to Will Smith and Dalton Rushing, Rortvedt took on the role of the Dodgers’ primary catcher for the rest of the regular season. He ended with a batting line of .224/.309/327, including two doubles, one home run, and four RBIs across 18 games. In the postseason, he also started four more games while Will Smith was healing from his fractured hand.
However, Rortvedt did not play in the postseason after Game 2 of the National League Division Series, as by then Smith had been deemed fully recovered from a hairline fracture in his right hand and was prepared to resume his starting role behind the plate.
Most of Rortvedt’s influence was on the Dodgers’ pitching staff, where he was praised for quickly adapting and effectively supporting game plans.
Rortvedt and the Dodgerds were able to agree on a 1-year, $1.2 million contract to avoid arbitration before he was DFA’d shortly after and claimed by the Cincinnati Reds.
For now, it appears Rortvedt’s tenure in Dodger Blue is over, with spring training set to kick off.
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