Dodgers should consider a drastic Dalton Rushing move with Ben Rortvedt electing free agency

On Saturday, veteran catcher Ben Rortvedt elected free agency, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers organization for the fourth time in two years.

He was DFA'd last November and claimed by the Cincinnati Reds, who then DFA'd him in February. The Dodgers picked him up again, only to be DFA'd five days later.

After lingering in the New York Mets' organization for a little while, the Dodgers traded for him (again) on August 3 after Dalton Rushing went to the IL. He was DFA'd for the fourth time this calendar year a month later, but went unclaimed on waivers and was sent outright to Oklahoma City to finish out the season.

His relationship with the Dodgers was so on-again-off-again that it would come to no one's surprise if LA simply re-signed him to a minor league deal to keep their catching depth intact — they already have Eliezer Alfonzo and Hunter Feduccia, both of whom still have minor league options, but they can't seem to give up on Rortvedt.

The Dodgers could also use a Rortvedt re-signing as part of a broader scheme that would finally have them parting ways with former No. 1 prospect Dalton Rushing.

Re-signing Ben Rortvedt would offer Dodgers enough depth to trade Dalton Rushing

The Dodgers have always been adamant about finding ways to get Rushing at-bats despite playing second fiddle to Will Smith, but toward the end of the season, the bloom sort of came off the rose. There was no greater indictment than leaving him off both of their postseason rosters in favor of Feduccia and Josue De Paula, who needed all of 31 at-bats to convince the Dodgers he was the better bet as a pinch-hit option.

If the Dodgers re-sign Rortvedt, they could keep both him and Alfonzo in Triple-A while giving Feduccia, who turned out some productive at-bats for LA upon his return from the Tampa Bay Rays, the backup role. It wouldn't be hard for the Dodgers to find a taker for Rushing in a trade — and probably at a considerable price, given that they could make the argument that he would be a starting catcher anywhere but LA.

Although the Dodgers have no real need for prospects, it'd just be another way to shore up the pipeline and give them more juice for their next blockbuster trade.

Despite their insistence and promises, the Dodgers have never figured out how to truly accomodate Rushing on their roster. With how postseason-minded they are, what use is he to them if he can't even make the NLDS roster? Re-signing Rortvedt would be the first step, but the Dodgers should reconsider taking it further with Rushing.

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