Dodgers reacquire catchers Rortvedt, Feduccia as Rushing heads to IL

CHICAGO -- Even with starting backstop Will Smith out for two months and counting with an inflamed disc in his neck, the Dodgers did not feel that they had a pressing need to add a catcher ahead of Monday's 3 p.m. PT Trade Deadline -- until around 24 hours beforehand.

When Dalton Rushing, who had taken over as the starter in Smith's absence, was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to what was initially described as minor irritation in his right arm -- and later placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation ahead of Monday's series opener against the Cubs -- that changed the calculus.

So the Dodgers reunited with a pair of familiar faces behind the plate, acquiring Ben Rortvedt from the Mets and Hunter Feduccia from the Rays ahead of Monday's Trade Deadline.

TRADE DETAILS
Dodgers receive: C Ben Rortvedt
Mets receive: RHP Chayce McDermott

"The biggest thing was to make sure we felt like we had coverage with both Will and Rush out," general manager Brandon Gomes said. "With Feddy and Rort, both guys have had familiarity with our staff. It was really important to kind of come in and fit right into the clubhouse and know that our guys have thrown to them, or most of them have thrown to them in the past. So it was a really good fit."

The Dodgers had already considered adding to their catching depth at the Deadline because while Smith is progressing toward a return, he remains weeks away. They weren't looking to add a starting catcher, but because of Rushing's injury, Rortvedt will likely take on the "lion's share" of catching duties once he joins the team on Tuesday. Feduccia could also be activated at some point this week.

TRADE DETAILS
Dodgers receive: C Hunter Feduccia and RHP Jacob Kmatz (now LAD's No. 27 prospect)
Rays receive: Minor League OF Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money

Rookie Eliezer Alfonzo started Monday's game behind the plate, and Chuckie Robinson was selected from Triple-A Oklahoma City to back him up in the short term.

Rushing did not travel to Wrigley Field with the Dodgers, staying back in L.A. to be evaluated by the team's medical staff. The Dodgers first became aware of the injury when he felt something while playing catch during pregame warmups on Sunday. He only feels discomfort while throwing, and the team is hopeful that he won't be sidelined for long. At the very least, they expect him back this season.

"There was no one incident," manager Dave Roberts said. "Dalton said that he's had bouts of this in the past. So that's, I guess, a good thing that he's kind of dealt with it. But I don't think anyone knows how long it's going to be. But I still don't feel that it'll be that long.”

This is the third time the Dodgers have acquired Rortvedt in the past year. They traded for him as part of a three-team deal with the Rays and Reds ahead of last year's Deadline before losing him to Cincinnati on a waiver claim in the offseason. L.A. claimed him off waivers in February, but designated him for assignment days later.

Rortvedt, 28, played in 18 games for the Dodgers last September and drew praise for his work with the team's pitching staff, particularly the rotation. Feduccia, 29, was a 12th-round Draft pick by the Dodgers in 2018. He went to Tampa Bay in the same three-team deal in which L.A. acquired Rortvedt last season.

Both Rortvedt and Feduccia have not spent much time with the big league club in totality. Still, their relative familiarity with the pitching staff was an appealing factor in bringing them back in a time of need.