Imagine a talented catcher with a rock-solid glove but a bat that's more like a toothpick—now he's switching teams in a move that's shaking up the NL Central. The Cincinnati Reds just scooped up Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers, and this unexpected shuffle could reshape their catching corps in intriguing ways. Let's dive into what this means for everyone involved.
In a surprise announcement from the Dodgers, they've confirmed that the Reds have claimed 28-year-old backstop Ben Rortvedt (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rortvbe01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-11-12br) from their waiver wire. Interestingly, there wasn't any prior notice that Rortvedt had been placed on waivers after a designation for assignment, which means the Dodgers' 40-man roster now sits at 39 players. On the flip side, the Reds' active roster climbs from 37 to 38, giving them a bit more depth behind the plate.
Rortvedt has had a nomadic career so far, crisscrossing the majors with stints on four different clubs despite logging only 227 games at the big-league level. He's donned the uniforms of the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and now briefly the Dodgers before this move. What stands out about his play is his exceptional defensive skills—think framing pitches like a pro and controlling the running game—but his hitting has lagged behind. Across those 633 plate appearances, he's posted a modest .190 batting average, .279 on-base percentage, and .270 slugging percentage. For newcomers to baseball stats, that means he doesn't get on base often and rarely hits for power, which can be a challenge in a position that demands well-rounded contributions.
But here's where it gets interesting: even with limited offense, his elite glovemanship could elevate him if he adds just a touch more pop at the plate. He demonstrated this potential during his time with the Rays in 2024. His slash line of .228/.317/.303 might not dazzle on its own—translating to an 87 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), a metric that shows he was about 13% worse than the league average offensively. However, catchers as a group typically hover around 10% below average due to the demanding nature of the position, so Rortvedt was holding his own. Combine that with his stellar defense, and FanGraphs awarded him 1.4 wins above replacement (WAR) for the season—a solid contribution that highlights how defense can make or break a catcher's value. WAR, by the way, is a stat that estimates a player's total impact compared to a replacement-level player, like a bench guy or minor leaguer.
And this is the part most people miss: Rortvedt's 2025 season started with a thud but ended on a high note that might have caught the Reds' eye. He struggled mightily out of the gate, slashing .095/.186/.111 before being demoted to the minors by early June. Then, in a complex three-team trade at the deadline (https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/07/reds-finalizing-deal-for-zack-littell.html), he was sent to the Dodgers in exchange for pitcher Zack Littell (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/litteza01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-11-12br) heading to Cincinnati. Rortvedt earned a call-up when star catcher Will Smith (https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=smithwi05,smithwi04,smith-094wil,smith-091wil,smith-088wil,smith-090wil&search=Will+Smith&utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-11-12br) went down with an injury, and he responded with a respectable .224/.309/.327 line in the season's final stretch. As the playoffs kicked off with Smith still sidelined, Rortvedt became the everyday catcher, even flashing brilliance with a scorching .429/.500/.571 mark over four games before Smith returned. He stuck around on the postseason roster but saw limited action in the NLCS and World Series, which raises questions about his long-term fit with L.A.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Dodgers appear set at catcher with Will Smith and promising prospect Dalton Rushing (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rushida01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-11-12br) slated as their top options. Rortvedt, however, is out of minor-league options, meaning he can't be sent down without passing through waivers again. He's also entering arbitration eligibility, where MLBTR's Matt Swartz (https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2026.html) forecasts a salary around $1.3 million. It seems likely the Dodgers weren't keen on committing to him long-term, opting instead to waive him and let another team take a shot.
The Reds make for a fascinating destination here, especially given their catching situation in 2025. They relied mainly on Tyler Stephenson (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stephty01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-11-12br) and Jose Trevino (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/trevijo01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-11-12br) behind the dish. Trevino has built a reputation as a top-tier defender throughout his career, though he was more middling in 2025. His offense has always been underwhelming, and his .238/.272/.351 slash that year fell short of even his usual benchmarks. For context, that's below-average production, especially for a catcher who relies on his glove to stay valuable. He's under team control through 2027, with a club option for 2028, so the Reds have flexibility there.
Stephenson, on the other hand, has drawn criticism for his defensive shortcomings—scouts often rate his catching below average. But he's compensated with a potent bat over the years. In 2025, he was right around league average, but he's flashed star potential before, like his .296/.369/.454 line with a 120 wRC+ (20% above average) from 2020 to 2022. Looking at the last three seasons, he's at .246/.325/.414 with a 99 wRC+, showing he's a reliable but not elite hitter. He's in his final arbitration year, projected at $6.4 million, after which he'll hit free agency.
But here's where it gets controversial: with Rortvedt joining the mix, how will the Reds juggle their catchers? Since Stephenson's defense isn't his strength, maybe they shift him to first base more often, letting Trevino and Rortvedt handle the bulk of the catching load—after all, Rortvedt's glove could pair nicely with Trevino's experience. Or, could the Reds dangle Stephenson or Trevino in trade talks to consolidate? Keeping all three isn't out of the question; they could tender Rortvedt a contract now and try waiving him later if needed. Given his three-to-five years of service time, he'd have the option to declare free agency instead, though that would mean walking away from his arbitration earnings—a risky move that might appeal if he believes in a bigger payday elsewhere. Some fans might argue this adds unnecessary redundancy, while others see it as smart depth-building in a position prone to injuries. What do you think—does Rortvedt solve a problem for Cincinnati, or is he just another journeyman? Drop your takes in the comments below and let's debate!
Photo courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images
View Comments (11)
