The Los Angeles Dodgers shuffled their roster Thursday, making three moves ahead of their series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The club selected the contract of catcher Ben Rortvedt, optioned infielder Alex Freeland back to the minors, and designated right-hander Alexis Díaz for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Will Smith’s Status Drives Catching Changes
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The biggest factor in these moves is Will Smith’s right hand injury, suffered Wednesday when he was struck by a foul ball. Smith underwent a CT scan Thursday, and while he has avoided an immediate injured list stint, manager Dave Roberts admitted it is “unlikely” the All-Star catcher will play this weekend in Baltimore.
That leaves Dalton Rushing as the primary starter for now, with Rortvedt called up to back him up. Rushing has struggled in limited big league chances — hitting just .190/.256/.293 through 129 plate appearances — but the Dodgers hope consistent at-bats could help him find his rhythm.
Rortvedt, meanwhile, joins the roster after being acquired in a three-team trade before the deadline. Across 17 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, he hit .228 with a .667 OPS. Known more for his defense than his bat, the 27-year-old appeared in 112 games for Tampa Bay last season, posting a .228/.317/.303 slash line with 1.4 fWAR.
Alex Freeland Sent Back to Minors
The odd man out in this shuffle is Alex Freeland, who heads back to the minors after appearing in 29 MLB games. He hit .190 with two home runs, six RBI and a .601 OPS.
The decision to option Freeland reflects both roster need and organizational depth. With Hyeseong Kim recently activated and Max Muncy nearing his return, Freeland’s role was already shrinking. The Dodgers also appear to value Justin Dean’s defense in the outfield more than keeping Freeland on the bench, so he’ll return to everyday at-bats in the minors.
Dodgers Cut Ties With Alexis Díaz
The toughest decision may have been on Alexis Díaz, who was designated for assignment less than three months after being acquired from Cincinnati. The Dodgers took a flier on Díaz, a 2023 All-Star, hoping he could rediscover his form. Instead, he posted a 9.00 ERA across nine outings, allowing five earned runs with nine strikeouts.
Díaz will now head to waivers, where another team could take a chance on his raw talent.
What’s Next
The Dodgers are holding out hope Smith can return within days rather than weeks, but any setback would carry major implications this late in the season. Smith has been among the best hitting catchers in baseball, batting .296/.405/.497 with a 153 wRC+ and 4.1 fWAR on the year.
If he misses extended time, the Dodgers will lean more heavily on Rushing and Rortvedt — a duo light on experience but backed by upside and defensive reliability.
For now, the roster churn underscores the Dodgers’ balancing act: protecting depth, keeping the lineup afloat while stars heal, and preparing for the stretch run.