Now-former Los Angeles catcher played a big role in keeping team in the playoff hunt while Will Smith, Dalton Rushing were out.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up their celebrations (if they have at all) over a second straight World Series championship, the hard work of keeping a team together had to start.
As much as the Dodgers probably wanted to keep much of the nucleus together, that's not going to happen in reality.
On Wednesday, Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. The Dodgers announced the move on Wednesday afternoon, along with some news about pitcher Tony Gonsolin.
There has been a little news out on some Dodgers fan sites on X (formerly Twitter) that Rortvedt might have been designated for assignment, then picked up off waivers. As of Wednesday afternoon, there is no concrete word from the Dodgers that this is what happened.
But Rortvedt played a big role in keeping the Dodgers pitching staff as focused as possible.
Besides the Dodgers, Rortvedt has also played for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay Rays. Rortvedt has a career slash line of .190/.279/.270 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs.
For the Dodgers in 2025, Rortvedt appeared in 18 games and hit .224, going 11-for-49 at the plate with two doubles, one home run, and four RBIs.
Rortvedt stepped up to fill the gap left when Will Smith and Dalton Rushing were out of the Dodgers' lineup with injuries.
Of course, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hopes that Smith and Rushing can spend time in the offseason healing from their injuries a bit more. Having as many of his 40-man roster players arriving at Dodger Town in good shape will help Roberts steer the club into a decent start next season.
Rortvedt goes to a Cincinnati team that has shown flashes of turning a corner or two in recent seasons. The Reds have one of MLB's finest young players in Elly De La Cruz, so Rortvedt will try and carve out a niche for himself in Reds manager Terry Francona's locker room.
Dodgers fans, though, will remember what Rortvedt provided the team when it was most needed in the postseason.
Happy trails to you, Ben.