CHICAGO — The Dodgers added catching depth on Monday with a familiar name.
They acquired journeyman backstop Ben Rortvedt from the Mets for right-hander Chayce McDermott, the team announced hours before the trade deadline.
The move marked the third time in a little over a year that the Dodgers have acquired Rortvedt. They also traded for him before the deadline last year and claimed him off waivers for several days in February.
The Dodgers designated McDermott for assignment on Friday in the midst of a reliever shuffle to prepare for a bullpen game.
The team felt comfortable with backup catcher Dalton Rushing taking on the bulk of the catching duties while catcher Will Smith continues to work back from a lingering neck injury that’s kept him sidelined since early June. But depth at the physically taxing position is always valuable.
That point was highlighted Sunday, when the Dodgers scratched Rushing from the lineup with what they called minor arm irritation.
In Rortvedt, the Dodgers bring in an experienced catcher who is familiar with their pitching staff back into the organization. Not on the Mets’ 40-man roster, Rortvedt has spent the season in triple-A Syracuse, where he posted a .733 OPS.
As the hours ticked closer to the trade deadline, the Dodgers also acquired left-hander Kris Bubic from the Royals on Monday, a person with knowledge of the situation but not authorized to speak publicly confirmed. In return, the Dodgers sent back right-hander Carlos Duran.
Bubic, who was an All-Star last year, was on the 60-day IL with the Royals. Left elbow soreness initially sidelined him in mid-May, but shoulder soreness set back his ramp-up while he was on a minor-league rehab assignment. He’s since started a new throwing progression.
Bubic posted a 4.11 ERA in nine starts before landing on the IL. But he’s not far removed from a 2025 season that featured a 90th-percentile chase rate of 32.5%, according to Statcast.
Duran owned a 3.38 ERA with triple-A Oklahoma City. His departure opens a spot on the 40-man roster.
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