Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
In a move that the Dodgers famously tried to make work multiple times before the season, they have finally made last year’s backup catcher Ben Rortvedt their backup catcher yet again by trading for him from the Mets in exchange for RHP Chayce McDermott.
Like many thought should happen, Benny Biceps is back.
At least for now, it also frees up a 40-man roster spot.
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Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but at last year’s deadline, with Will Smith hurt and left with just Dalton Rushing as their primary catcher, the Dodgers acquired insurance in Ben Rortvedt from the Rays. Well, now with Smith hurt again (but making alleged progress) and Rushing once again the primary catcher (but doing well this time), the Dodgers have got insurance in the form of Rortvedt again.
It seems a bit silly to say, but Rortvedt became a cult hero of sorts last year by just being playable and likeable, mostly. He only slashed .224/.309/.327/.636 and his career line is .190/.279/.270/.549, but he established a reputation as a good defensive catcher, who most importantly could handle a pitching staff and who is an above-average blocker and thrower. He also put up a .429/.500/.571/1.071 line in 10 playoff appearances, starring especially against the Reds.
Verona native Ben Rortvedt drives in his first MLB postseason run.
— Andrew Bandstra (@andrewbandstra) October 1, 2025
He got the start behind the plate for the Dodgers in Game One of their Wild Card series. pic.twitter.com/gxgjuCq94b
Now 28, he has been hitting in AAA almost exactly like he has for his career, posting a .235/.319/.414/.733 line.
This was just a common sense insurance move.
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Smith and Rushing provide an elite catching duo, the best in baseball when healthy. However, there’s no real proof of life that Will can be or will be healthy yet, and while Rushing has been great in his stead, he’s also famously shown some signs of what I called Grandal Particles — for former catcher Yasmani Grandal, who famously melted down in the playoffs.
Basically, I just thought the Dodgers needed to acquire somebody who they could trust not to screw everything up if it came down to it, especially when they are so well setup for the playoffs now. And despite going through a ton of potential catching options in the leadup to the deadline, settling on Ben Rortvedt in exchange for a reliever in Chayce McDermott they were basically just cycling through anyway makes a lot of sense and puts my nerves at ease a bit.
Welcome back.
