For the third time in about one year, the Dodgers have acquired catcher Ben Rortvedt. This time the security blanket comes home courtesy of the New York Mets, per multiple reports, with pitcher Chayce McDermott headed to New York three days after getting designated for assignment.
Rortvedt is hitting .235/.319/.414 with eight doubles, six home runs, and an 86 wRC+ in 48 games for Triple-A Syracuse, a season that has been interrupted only by injured-list stints in April and June. Rortvedt isn’t on the
40-man roster, not since getting sent outright to the minors by the Mets in March.
But that could change relatively soon. Will Smith is at least three to four weeks away as he works his way back from neck inflammation that has sidelined him since the first week of June, coupled with Dalton Rushing experiencing irritation near his right elbow while getting scratched from an expected Sunday start.
Rortvedt was similarly acquired at the last trade deadline, also off the 40-man roster at the time. But come September, when both Smith and Rushing got hurt, Rortvedt started 15 of the final 21 games of the regular season, then started the Dodgers’ first four postseason games behind the plate before Smith finally returned from his hand injury.
Lauded for his receiving skills, Rortvedt amassed a 2 Fielding Run Value last season, mostly attributed to his framing.
With Smith out, the Dodgers first used Chuckie Robinson for six starts before getting sent outright to Oklahoma City, and since have deployed Eliezer Alfonzo as backup catcher for eight starts. Those two have a combined six hits in 47 at-bats (.128), and both have -1 Fielding Run Value in limited time behind the plate.
The Dodgers signed Rortvedt to a $1.25 million guaranteed contract in November to avoid salary arbitration, but then he rode the waiver wire through the offseason. The Cincinnati Reds claimed him in November, but the Dodgers claimed Rortvedt back in February. Nine days later, Rortvedt was claimed by the Mets, with whom he remained until Monday.
McDermott was designated for assignment on Friday to make 40-man roster room for Cole Irvin for a day. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in April, McDermott appeared in two games in the majors for the Dodgers, and allowed two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings, with one strikeout.
The 27-year-old right-hander had a 4.10 ERA in 27 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, with 43 strikeouts and 20 walks in 26 1/3 innings.
