Ben

Rortvedt

Assuming he sticks with the team, Rortvedt will be functional catcher depth for the Mets after going unclaimed on waivers.

The Mets claimed Rortvedt off waivers from the Dodgers in February, but he did not make the team as the backup catcher. If he goes unclaimed, he could choose to stay in the organization in the minors.

The 28-year-old backstop had just been claimed off of waivers from the Reds last week, but he’ll change jerseys once again as he joins the Mets. Rortvedt will provide quality catching depth for the Mets and can continue to be ignored for fantasy purposes.

It was a fun five days on the active roster. We’ll see if any other team wants to take a gander on Rortvedt’s one-year, $1.25 million contract on waivers. If not, he’ll likely remain with the Dodgers.

Rortvedt signed a $1.25 million contract with the Dodfers before he was put on waivers back in November. They probably thought the contract would keep anybody from claiming him, but the Reds did. Then the Reds designated Rortvedt for assignment when they signed Eugenio Suarez, so Rortvedt is now back with the Dodgers.

The Reds needed a spot on their 40-man roster to sign Eugenio Suarez, so Rortvedt is the odd man out. He was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers back in November, but will now head back to waivers, where he could be claimed again by the Dodgers. The Reds will continue with Jose Trevino as their backup catcher.

These kinds of things are supposed to be announced, but in this case, both the contract and the move to put Rortvedt on waivers went unreported initially. The contract shows that the Dodgers were hoping to pass Rortvedt unclaimed through waivers and keep him as a third catcher. The Reds interfered with that plan even though they already have a well-paid backup in Jose Trevino. They might also try to slip Rortvedt through waivers at some point, but it’s possible they could carry three catchers if they want to give DH time to Tyler Stephenson. Rortvedt is out of options, so he can’t be sent down next spring without clearing waivers.

Rortvedt hit just .152 with a .445 OPS with the Dodgers and Rays in 2025, but he’s one of the better defensive backstops in the sport. The 28-year-old will likely be the backup catcher for Cincinnati in 2026.

Smith will get the nod to start at catcher for the first time in the postseason after appearing off the bench in Game 1 and 2 against the Phillies. Ben Rortvedt will retreat to the bench with Smith handling backstop duties. The full lineup: Shohei Ohtani DH, Mookie Betts SS, Teoscar Hernández RF, Freddie Freeman 1B, Smith C, Enrique Hernández LF, Max Muncy 3B, Andy Pages CF and Tommy Edman 2B.

Smith told reporters he’s available off the bench to pinch-hit and catch but Los Angeles is clearly going to limit his workload for the moment as he returns to game action for the first time since early September due to a hairline fracture in his right hand. Here’s the full lineup that will face Phillies lefty ace Cristopher Sánchez on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park: Shohei Ohtani (DH/P), Mookie Betts (SS), Teoscar Hernández (RF), Freddie Freeman (1B), Tommy Edman (2B), Enrique Hernández (3B), Alex Call (LF), Andy Pages (CF) and Ben Rortvedt (C).