Dodgers insider hinting at Dalton Rushing trade makes Ben Rortvedt decision more bizarre

Down the stretch and into the postseason, Ben Rortvedt became something of a Los Angeles Dodgers folk hero. The defensive-minded journeyman had been an afterthought at the time of his acquisition, but proved vital in the midst of Will Smith's injury and Dalton Rushing's struggles.

Rortvedt's .224/.309/.327 regular-season line was more or less standard backup catcher fare, but it was the way he navigated the pitching staff through some of their most dominant performances of the season that drew attention.

As Smith healed, the Dodgers bumped Rushing in favor of Rortvedt for the NLCS roster, and the 28-year-old backstop's .429/.500/.571 postseason line seemed to spell trouble for Rushing in 2026. That is, until he was surprisingly cut loose in one of the Dodgers' first offseason moves.

Presumably, Los Angeles decided that Rushing's significantly higher ceiling was worth carrying over a small sample of Rortvedt magic, and the club projected the former Minnesota Twins' second-round pick to turn back into a pumpkin next season. But now, Rushing's future may also be in doubt.

After Ben Rortvedt's departure, Dalton Rushing's future with the Dodgers is also uncertain, as an insider hints at a trade

MLB.com's Dodgers' insider, Sonja Chen, recently speculated that the Dodgers could look to move on from Rushing, putting the once top prospect on the trade block this winter.

"It's unclear if there is a path to getting Rushing the at-bats he needs next year, and his performance this past season did not force the issue. The 25-year-old plays a premium position and has a strong offensive track record in the minors, so he could potentially fetch some value on the trade market if the Dodgers can't figure out a role for him," Chen wrote.

Take Rushing's big league struggles out of the equation for a second. Yes, he posted a paltry .582 OPS in 2025, but that was while receiving inconsistent playing time. That can make it tough for any player to find a rhythm, but especially a youngster facing big league pitching for the first time who is used to playing every day.

The more pertinent note is that everyday playing time behind the plate isn't coming any time soon for Rushing. Three-time All-Star Will Smith is coming off a .901 OPS and is signed through 2033. He's not ceding the starting catcher job for a very long while.

Rushing has experience at first base (he played eight major league games there) and left field, though he only got one start out there while down at Oklahoma City in 2025. He has the athleticism to handle it, but the question will be whether or not the Dodgers give him that shot.

Even if Los Angeles puts him into a pseudo-utility role, they'll need to carry a third catcher and still might not find enough at-bats to keep Rushing's development from stalling out. At that point, it's worth considering if the former top-100 prospect can bring more value as a trade chip than he can as a member of the 2026 squad.

Rushing has the ceiling of an elite catcher on both sides of the ball and comes with loads of team control. That's a valuable asset, even after some of his shine wore off in 2025. To that end, it makes it seem like a foregone conclusion that he's a goner.