"Ben Rortvedt has had an interesting few months since winning the 2025 World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was recently designated for assignment by the Dodgers for a second time since the end of last season, and he has once again been claimed. This time, Rortvedt heads to the New York Mets, giving him the opportunity to compete for their backup job with Austin Barnes."
"The Dodgers hoped to pass the backup catcher through waivers and keep him in the organization after this tactic failed the first time. The belief was that Rortvedt's $1.25 million salary would play a role in none of the 29 other Major League organizations claiming him, as they would have had to assume his current contract. This tactic would have required the Dodgers to pay a premium for a catcher who is third on their organizational depth chart,"
Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment by the Dodgers a second time and was claimed by the New York Mets, who will let him compete with Austin Barnes for the backup catcher job. The Dodgers previously signed him to a one-year, $1.25 million contract to avoid arbitration, after which he was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds and later reclaimed by Los Angeles. Rortvedt joined the Dodgers via trade on July 31, 2025, played 18 games (.224, one homer, four RBI) and provided defensive value. The Dodgers repeatedly tried to pass him through waivers to retain roster depth, prioritizing multiple quality backup catchers due to Will Smith's load management in 2025, but the waiver strategy failed and Chuckie Robinson is now third on the depth chart.
Read at Dodger Blue
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