Dodgers re-acquire catcher from weird 3-team trade in deal with Rays at deadline buzzer

The theme of the Los Angeles Dodgers' trade deadline? Acquiring Tarik Skubal and Kris Bubic and a bunch of guys for them to throw to.

Though the two lefty starters got most of the headlines, the Dodgers did wisely add some catching depth in the form of old friend Ben Rortvedt in a small deadline-day deal with the New York Mets. His familiarity with the organization and pitching staff should make his transition back to Los Angeles seamless.

That analysis also applies to the team's buzzer-beater addition, Hunter Feduccia. The 29-year-old backstop was originally drafted by the organization back in 2018, and he was actually dealt for Rortvedt in a three-team trade last summer. Now, he'll join Rortverdt as immediate catching depth until Will Smith is ready to return.

Dodgers acquire key catching depth at trade deadline as Dalton Rushing also hits injured list

Feduccia has had a nice season as a backup catcher in Tampa Bay, though he was rendered superfluous once the Rays acquired Liam Hicks from the Marlins. He's hitting .236/.306/.340 (82 wRC+) with respectable defensive metrics (+2 Fielding Run Value), though no one will confuse him for a starting backstop.

Rortvedt is a nice complement, as he's regarded as a very strong defensive backstop. They will pair together to back up Dalton Rushing, who has emerged as the starter in Will Smith's absence.

Though this may seem underwhelming to those hoping for a bigger upgrade behind the plate, this is exactly what the Dodgers said they would do. They want to give Rushing the keys to the position until Smith fully recovers from his neck injury, which the organization is hoping will happen at some point during the regular season.

Unfortunately, Rushing is also headed to the injured list with an elbow strain, meaning both catchers should see extended playing time until he returns.

Given how difficult it is to integrate catchers into a run-prevention program and get them familiar with pitchers during the middle of a season, it was a smart piece of business for Andrew Friedman and company to target a pair who already know the way things are done in this organization. There might be a 40-man roster crunch once Smith and Rushing return, but that's a bridge worth crossing once we get to it.

The Dodgers also acquired 23-year-old Jacob Kmatz in the deal, a reliever with a 2.89 ERA and 35.7% strikeout rate between High-A and Double-A this year. All they had to surrender was Triple-A outfielder Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money.

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