The Houston Astros are still shopping for a backup catcher as spring training approaches, and while the market has thinned out, a new name may have just become available at the perfect time. With Victor Caratini signing with the Twins earlier this offseason, Houston’s options have narrowed, and a potential reunion with Christian Vázquez has been floated. But given Vázquez’s age - he turns 35 this year - and likely price tag, the Astros might want to think twice before committing significant dollars to a veteran whose best days are behind him.
Enter Ben Rortvedt.
The Cincinnati Reds just designated the 28-year-old catcher for assignment following their surprise signing of Eugenio Suárez. It’s a classic roster crunch move - one that could quietly benefit a team like Houston, which is looking for a low-cost, defense-first option behind the plate.
Let’s rewind a bit. Rortvedt ended last season with the Dodgers, who liked him enough to sign him to a one-year, $1.25 million deal.
But with no minor league options left, the Dodgers tried to pass him through waivers - a gamble the Reds jumped on. Now, with Suárez in the fold, Cincinnati has DFA’d Rortvedt, possibly hoping he slips through waivers themselves.
Given the current state of the catching market, that’s a long shot.
From Houston’s perspective, Rortvedt checks a lot of boxes. No, he’s not going to light up the scoreboard - his offensive numbers last season were rough, to say the least: a .152/.240/.205 slash line over 128 plate appearances with a 31 wRC+.
But backup catchers aren’t brought in to mash. They’re brought in to manage a pitching staff, control the running game, and steal a few strikes behind the dish.
And that’s where Rortvedt shines.
His defensive profile is quietly strong. Baseball Savant grades him well in pitch framing and blocking, two areas that matter a lot when you’re talking about a guy who’s going to catch once or twice a week.
He’s not the kind of backup who disrupts rhythm or gives pitchers pause - quite the opposite. He’s a steady presence behind the plate, and that’s exactly what you want when your starter needs a breather.
And then there’s the financial angle. The Astros are sitting just under $6 million from the first luxury tax threshold.
Signing someone like Vázquez could eat into that cushion fast. Rortvedt, on the other hand, comes at a fraction of the cost and offers a similar defensive floor.
He’s not a long-term solution, but he doesn’t need to be. He’s a plug-and-play backup who fits the budget and the role.
At this point in the offseason, there’s no Caratini left on the board. The Astros aren’t going to find a backup with starter-level upside. What they need is someone who can handle the job quietly and professionally - someone who won’t hurt them defensively and won’t cost them flexibility elsewhere on the roster.
Ben Rortvedt might not be the flashiest name, but he could be the right fit at the right time.