The New York Mets claimed catcher Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
The Dodgers placed Rortvedt — who had only rejoined the team a few days prior — on waivers to make room for right-handed reliever Evan Phillips, who they signed to a one-year, $6.5 million contract.
Rortvedt has moved around a lot this offseason, first going to the Cincinnati Reds after the Dodgers left him off the 40-man roster at the beginning of the offseason. The Reds designated him for assignment after signing All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez, and the Dodgers claimed him while designating Anthony Banda for assignment.
Banda later joined the Minnesota Twins.
When Did Ben Rortvedt First Join the Dodgers?
The Dodgers first acquired Rortvedt at the trade deadline in 2025, receiving him from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team deal.
Rortvedt went straight to Triple-A, but quickly found his way to the majors.
Will Smith and Dalton Rushing, L.A.’s first and second choice catchers, landed on the injured list within a week of each other in September, leaving Rortvedt as the Dodgers’ starter.
He played 18 games with the Dodgers to close the season, and even remained with the squad into the postseason — making four appearances.
The catcher had a .636 OPS in the regular season, and managed a 1.071 OPS in the playoffs. He hit a single home run and tallied four RBIs in the regular season.
Do the Mets Need Ben Rortvedt?
Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens are the current options for the Mets at catcher, and Rortvedt has a real chance at making the team in Queens.
Neither Torrens nor Alvarez are as offensively skilled as Smith, giving Rortvedt a much easier path to MLB.
While his defensive value is harder to compare due to his limited major-league sample size, he will undoubtedly bring a championship mentality and plenty of experience to the Mets should they hold onto him for the remainder of the offseason.
The situation hasn’t changed for the Dodgers despite Rortvedt’s departure, as they will most likely still run Smith as their starting catcher and Rushing as their backup.
Did you want to keep Ben Rortvedt?
16 Responses
Yes. I was hoping he would get thru waivers and be insurance in AAA. Mets also signed Austin Barnes to a minor league deal. Good luck to both of them.
one of them will hunt them back in the playoffs
Yes, I wish he’d stay. But the Dodgers can’t make up their mind on this Dalton Rushing situation so it’s best that Ben get a chance to stick and play for the Mets. Dodger pitchers will miss him!
My words exactly although I really may have tended to favor Ben
Absolutely, I agree!
Yeah I wish they would have kept him. I thought he was a damned good catcher and not to bad with the bat. I really have to think the Dodgers could have found a way to keep him. Frankly I was more impressed by Ben than I was with Rushing. Well at least Ben will most likely get a better chance to play with the Mets. I wish him well.
A mistake on the Dodger’s part. Rushing was a bust in his big league “tryout” last year and if he doesn’t improve this year we’ll be looking back on “wish we’d kept Rortvedt”. I’ll second that “wish we’d kept Banda” in that feeling, too.
Rortvedt did a great job for the Dodgers and proved himself as a great back up catcher. Apparently the Dodger pitchers liked and he caught some significant games. It’s a shame he is being shuffled around.
He helped us out BIGTIME last year.
Can’t keep everybody.
The 40 man is a juggling act for sure.
You always hope that players get a fair shake and an opportunity to play
even if it’s a couple day a week.
Good Luck to him . Hey he’s got and earned a RING .
Maybe the Dodgers will trade for Ryan Jeffers to be the backup catcher if Rushing doesn’t work out.
Yes, definitely should have kept him unless the have a catcher ready to make the big club.
They will regret it. Fan of 73 years.
Hopefully Ben will find a home in NY. Nothing says I want you like being DFA’d twice. But he got a ring. Good dude.
I’m a little confused? Did we lose Banda? Did he get traded?
He was designated for assignment and Minnesota came in to trade for him before the Dodgers were forced to cut ties with him.
Big mistake. After his showing,what could you be thinking or not thinking. Should have made it happen.SORRY