The Reds claimed Rortvedt off waivers from the Dodgers on Wednesday.
Rortvedt split 2025 between the Rays and Dodgers, collecting a .152/.240/.205 batting line over 44 regular-season contests. Per Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com, Rortvedt had avoided arbitration with the Dodgers with a one-year, $1.25 million contract prior to being placed on waivers, and that salary will now be the Reds' responsibility. He does not have minor-league options remaining and the Reds already have Tyler Stephenson and Jose Trevino pegged as their catching duo in 2026, so it's unclear how Rortvedt fits into the picture for Cincinnati.
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Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Riding bench Saturday
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Rortvedt isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Seattle.
Rortvedt will head to the bench Saturday after going 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts in Friday's series opener. Dalton Rushing will start behind the plate instead and bat ninth.
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Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Out of lineup Thursday
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Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Diamondbacks.
With Will Smith (hand) out and Dalton Rushing (shin) returning just last week, Rortvedt has served as the Dodgers' primary catcher this month. However, he'll get a breather in Thursday's finale while Rushing dons the catcher's gear.
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Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Goes yard Tuesday
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Rortvedt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.
The homer was Rortvedt's first of the season, giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead in the seventh inning. He has seen steady playing time in September while filling in for Will Smith (hand). Over 15 games this month, Rortvedt has gone 11-for-40 (.275) with three extra-base hits and four RBI. He's up to a .275/.341/.400 slash line with 10 RBI, nine runs scored and three doubles across 117 plate appearances this season.
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Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Ceding start to Rushing
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Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Rortvedt will give way to Dalton Rushing behind the plate after starting in four of the Dodgers' previous five contests. Though Rushing brings more offensive upside to the table, the Dodgers could prefer to go with the superior defensive option in Rortvedt behind the dish until Will Smith (hand) is cleared for game action.
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Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Takes over as primary catcher
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Rortvedt will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Giants.
Rortvedt will pick up his fourth consecutive start and looks poised to serve as the Dodgers' primary backstop until Los Angeles gets one of Will Smith (hand) or Dalton Rushing (shin) back from the injured list. Since being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 4, Rortvedt has gone 7-for-22 (.318 average) with two doubles, one walk, five runs and two RBI in eight games.
The Dodgers selected Rortvedt's contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Will Smith is undergoing a CT scan on his right hand and is expected to be out for at least a few days, so Rortvedt will be up to provide catching depth behind Dalton Rushing. Rortvedt was acquired from the Rays at the trade deadline.
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Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Dealt to Dodgers
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The Dodgers acquired Rortvedt on Wednesday in a three-team trade with the Rays and Reds, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Dodgers will send Hunter Feduccia to Tampa Bay to receive Rortvedt and Paul Gervase, and Los Angeles will also bring in Adam Serwinowski from Cincinnati, which is receiving Zack Littell. Rortvedt has tallied just six hits in 63 big-league at-bats this season, and with a .598 OPS in Triple-A, he hasn't been particularly effective in the minors either. The 27-year-old will act as organizational depth at catcher and isn't likely to spend a lot of time in Los Angeles.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Goes unclaimed off waivers
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Rortvedt accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Durham on Sunday after clearing waivers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt cleared waivers after Tampa Bay designated him for assignment Wednesday, and because he's logged more than three years of MLB service time, he had the ability to reject a minor-league assignment. After weighing his options, however, Rortvedt determined he was best suited remaining in the Tampa Bay organization. He's no longer on the Rays' 40-man roster but could get a call-up if Tampa Bay loses fellow catchers Danny Jansen or Matt Thaiss to an injury at any point.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: DFA'd by Tampa Bay
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The Rays designated Rortvedt for assignment Wednesday.
Tampa Bay's acquisition of Matt Thaiss on Tuesday set the stage for Rortvedt to lose his place on the 26-man active roster and 40-man roster, though he still started Tuesday versus Minnesota and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The 27-year-old backstop will now be exposed to waivers. Rortvedt is regarded as a good defender, but he posted a modest .620 OPS in 2024 and has been far less productive over 70 plate appearances this season, slashing .095/.186/.111.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Likely to lose roster spot
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The Rays are expected to designate Rortvedt for assignment Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt is slashing just .100/.194/.117 through 67 plate appearances on the season and currently sits as the third catcher on Tampa Bay's roster following the acquisition of Matt Thaiss from Chicago on Tuesday. Rortvedt's place on the depth chart makes him the obvious choice to lose his spot once Thaiss is activated, and the former's poor performance could cause him to pass through waivers unclaimed.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Rare offensive contribution
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Rortvedt went 1-for-3 with three RBI and a walk Sunday against the Blue Jays.
Rortvedt has had brief spells as the Rays' primary catcher this season, but he has started every third game since mid-May. Rortvedt offers some defensive value, but even with Sunday's strong effort, he has only six hits across 60 at-bats for the season with one extra-base hit.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Losing work to Jansen
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Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Though he had seemed to be moving into the strong side of a platoon at catcher with Danny Jansen, the left-handed-hitting Rortvedt will end up hitting the bench Wednesday for a third straight matchup versus a right-handed starting pitcher. Rortvedt is heralded for his defense behind the plate and his quick pop time, but he's been an easy out at the plate this season with a .196 on-base percentage.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Sitting against righty
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Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Rortvedt had started each of the Rays' last five matchups against right-handed pitchers, but he'll give way to Danny Jansen behind the dish Sunday versus Chad Patrick. The arrangement between the two backstops hasn't been paying off lately; Rortvedt and Jansen have gone a combined 3-for-29 through the Rays' first nine games in May.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: May be in strong side of platoon
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Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Though he'll hit the bench Wednesday against Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez, but the left-handed-hitting Rortvedt may have taken control of a strong-side platoon role at catcher with Danny Jansen. Rortvedt has started in each of the Rays' last four matchups with right-handed pitchers.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Playing time ticking up
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Rortvedt went 1-for-3 with two RBI, a walk and a run scored Saturday against the Yankees.
Rortvedt drew his third start in five games, all of which have come at catcher and at the expense of Danny Jansen, who has just a .486 OPS through 53 plate appearances. Rortvedt is typically not much of a contributor at the plate himself however, and he now has two hits across 21 at-bats to begin 2025.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Getting fourth start of season
Rotowire
Rortvedt will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Angels.
Rortvedt will enter the lineup for just the fourth time this season, with Danny Jansen drawing the other eight starts behind the plate through the Rays' first 12 games. Jansen is slashing a lowly .038/.194/.038 through his 31 plate appearances, so Rortvedt could work his way into more of a timeshare if he can provide more of an offensive spark in his future starts.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Catching in Thursday's game
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Rortvedt (shoulder) will start at catcher and bat fifth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
After getting an injection to relieve pain in his sore right shoulder, Rortvedt had been limited to designated-hitter duties in his last two spring games, but he'll step in behind the plate Thursday for the first time since Feb. 23. Provided that the shoulder issue provides no complications with his throwing over the rest of the spring, Rortvedt will be part of a timeshare at catcher with Danny Jansen to open the season.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Returns to action as DH on Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt (shoulder) went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League play.
Rortvedt played for the first time since receiving an injection in his sore right shoulder early last week, though he was limited to a non-defensive role. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Rortvedt will be available off the bench again Monday versus Atlanta, but if called upon to play, the 27-year-old will most likely replace starting designated hitter Eloy Jimenez. According to MLB.com, the Rays are targeting Thursday's game versus the Phillies for Rortvedt's return to catching duty, assuming his throwing is no longer compromised by the shoulder issue.
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