The Athletic names prime Dodgers trade deadline partner to improve catching depth

The Los Angeles Dodgers have excellent organizational depth at almost every position, but catcher is one area where they could definitely improve the farm system.

LA's had a very nice pipeline of backstops in recent years, but they've all graduated or been traded. Will Smith has become a World Series legend and potential Hall of Famer. Dalton Rushing has established himself as a legit big leaguer in 2026 — which has brought with it some trade buzz.

Two other former Dodgers catcher prospects (Keibert Ruiz and Thayron Liranzo) have been traded in recent years. Ruiz was traded to the Washington Nationals in the Trea Turner/Max Scherzer deal at the 2021 deadline. More recently, Liranzo was dealt to the Detroit Tigers as part of the Jack Flaherty trade at the 2024 deadline.

The Cardinals could help the Dodgers at the MLB trade deadline

As Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman looks around the league for catching depth, he'll surely take a long, hard look at the St. Louis Cardinals' system.

Outside of the Cardinals having the top catcher prospect in baseball, 19-year-old Rainiel Rodriguez, St. Louis also has highly-regarded 22-year-old catcher Leo Bernal and others. For this reason, The Athletic's Katie Woo recently identified the Cardinals as a good trade partner for the Dodgers.

Bernal has hit .268/.358/.444 this year in Triple-A with 10 home runs and 47 RBI. He's a switch-hitter who's known more for his defensive prowess than his bat, but scouts still believe he can be a starting MLB catcher if he can keep his offense at a decent level.

Then there's Ryan Campos, another switch-hitting backstop, who's hit .284/.396/.465 this year in Double-A with 10 homers and 47 RBI (eerily identical to Bernal). The 23-year-old is known for his compact swing. Sammy Hernandez, who has slashed .318/.470/.580 in High-A this season, is another name to watch at the deadline. He isn't known for his power, but he's certainly shown some it this season. He's regarded as having a very solid hit tool.

The Cardinals have a wealth of catching talent to choose from, and if Friedman and looking to replenish the position, the Dodgers top exec should think about giving Chaim Bloom a phone call later this month.

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