The Dodgers’ offseason has been full of headline-grabbing moves, but one of their most puzzling decisions came last week when they designated infielder Andy Ibáñez for assignment. That’s the same Andy Ibáñez they just signed to a $1.2 million major league deal.
The move was made to clear space on the 40-man roster for outfielder Michael Siani, who they had just claimed off waivers from Atlanta. But in a twist that feels straight out of a front office juggling act, Siani was then DFA’ed to make room for Kyle Tucker.
If your head’s spinning, you’re not alone.
The Dodgers likely hoped Ibáñez would slide through waivers unclaimed, allowing them to stash him in Triple-A as a depth option. With limited service time, Ibáñez wouldn’t have been able to reject the assignment, giving LA some infield insurance in case of injury.
But that plan didn’t pan out. The Oakland Athletics swooped in and claimed him, taking on the remainder of his contract and leaving the Dodgers with nothing to show for their investment.
Minutes later, though, LA pulled off a minor redemption arc by bringing back a familiar face. Catcher Ben Rortvedt, who started the offseason as a Reds pickup after being waived by the Dodgers, found himself back in Dodger blue. Cincinnati DFA’ed him, and LA didn’t hesitate to reclaim a player who, despite limited offensive upside, offers solid defensive value and familiarity with the pitching staff.
Here’s the rub: the Dodgers’ 40-man roster is now full. Again. So someone’s going to have to go.
Michael Siani, the outfielder who was just added and then DFA’ed once already, could be on the chopping block again. It would be a fitting - if slightly comical - full circle to this roster shuffle.
On the pitching side, right-hander Paul Gervase might be vulnerable. That would carry its own bit of irony, considering Gervase came to the Dodgers from the Rays in the same three-team trade that originally brought Rortvedt to LA at last year’s deadline.
As for Rortvedt’s role, it’s clear the Dodgers needed to bolster their catching depth. With Will Smith locked in as the starter and Dalton Rushing expected to step into the backup role, Rortvedt gives the team a bit of breathing room.
The catch here (no pun intended) is that Rortvedt is out of minor league options, while Rushing still has flexibility. That could complicate things if injuries or performance issues arise early in the season.
Then there’s the Ibáñez situation, which still raises questions. The Dodgers haven’t provided any recent updates on Tommy Edman’s status, but the timing of Ibáñez’s DFA suggested Edman might be progressing faster than expected. If that’s not the case, the loss of Ibáñez - a capable utility infielder - becomes even more head-scratching.
And if Siani ends up being DFA’ed again to make room for Rortvedt? Well, that would mean the Dodgers essentially gave away Ibáñez for nothing. In that case, fans might just have to chalk it up to one of those classic front office gambles that didn’t pay off.
Roster management in today’s MLB is a constant balancing act, and the Dodgers are no strangers to playing the margins. But even for a team known for its depth and savvy maneuvering, this sequence of moves has been unusually convoluted. It’s a reminder that even the most well-run organizations aren’t immune to the occasional roster misfire.
For now, the Dodgers have their backup catcher. But with the 40-man tightrope walk continuing, don’t be surprised if there’s another move - or two - just around the corner.