The Dodgers’ Tuesday roster shuffle brought back familiar names and added a new one, with Will Smith, Dalton Rushing, Justin Wrobleski and Alex Freeland all joining the active mix as rosters expanded from 26 players and 13 pitchers to 28 players and 14 pitchers.
Smith’s return is the headliner. Los Angeles activated the catcher from the 60-day injured list after his three-month absence with neck inflammation, and the move came with a corresponding DFA of Ben Rortvedt to clear space on both the 40-man and active rosters.
Smith had spent last week rehabbing with Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he went 4-for-16 with a homer and two doubles across five games, hitting .250/.250/.563. He also got 25 innings behind the plate in four games and served as the designated hitter once. His last game for the Dodgers came on June 5.
The timing matters because the catching production had been rough while Smith was out. Over the last 73 games, Dodgers catchers combined to hit .219/.283/.347 with a 74 wRC+ in 270 plate appearances, worth minus-0.1 FanGraphs WAR. That ranked 25th in wRC+ and 26th in fWAR among MLB’s 30 teams.
Rortvedt’s exit leaves another familiar Dodgers waiver story in its wake. He was acquired from the Mets just before the August 3 trade deadline and started nine of the last 24 games, sharing time behind the plate with fellow trade pickup Hunter Feduccia for four weeks. In Dodger blue, he went 5-for-27, hitting .185/.185/.185.
He’s out of options, which makes his roster status even more precarious. Last November, the Dodgers tried to pass him through waivers but the Reds claimed him. The Dodgers got him back in February, then lost him again to the Mets on waivers nine days later.
If he clears this time, there’s a good chance he sticks, since he’s eligible to play for the Dodgers in the postseason only because he was in the organization by September 1.
Rushing is back as well, giving the club another left-handed bat. The question now is how much he can do while working his way back from a partially torn UCL. At the very least, he’s available as a pinch-hitting option.
Wrobleski returned after a brief rehab stop in Oklahoma City on Saturday, where he worked four outs in a planned relief appearance. He gave up one run on three hits, struck out two and threw 34 pitches. Left forearm inflammation had kept him out for more than two weeks, and he had last pitched for the Dodgers on August 15.
Freeland’s recall comes after a season spent moving back and forth. He made the Opening Day roster, played the first five weeks in the majors, then returned for another two months from late May until he was optioned to Oklahoma City on July 28.
Even with that back-and-forth, he still leads the team this season with 66 starts and 500 innings at second base. He’s given the Dodgers steady defense there, posting five Defensive Runs Saved and three Outs Above Average.
Though he’s a shortstop by trade, Freeland has logged time all over the infield this year. In Triple-A this season, he started 18 games at third base, nine at shortstop and nine at second, and he also appeared twice as a designated hitter.
At the big-league level this year, Freeland hit .231/309/.313 with a 77 wRC+. He was more productive as a left-handed hitter, batting .248/.330/.339 with a 90 wRC+, while going just 4-for-30 from the right side, with a double and two walks.
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Dodgers Roster Shakeup Just Squeezed Out One Veteran Role Player
The Dodgers latest roster move brought some needed depth back into the mix, with catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing and left-hander Justin Wrobleski all coming off the injured list. Los Angeles also recalled infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A, giving the club another versatile piece as it juggles the back end of the roster.
To clear space, the Dodgers designated catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment, a reminder of how quickly the margins can tighten when injured players return at once. Outfielder Alek Thomas was sent to Triple-A as part of the same reshuffle, while top prospect James Tibbs III stays put there for now as the organization continues to sort out its next wave of options. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Catching Shakeup Begins As Will Smith Finally Returns
Will Smith is back on the active roster, and the Dodgers used a busy roster day to make room for him. Los Angeles activated Smith along with Dalton Rushing and Justin Wrobleski from the injured list, recalled infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned center fielder Alek Thomas, a flurry of moves that reflects just how much the club has had to juggle as it gets healthier.
The biggest shift came behind the plate, where Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment to clear space for Smith after the catcher spent time on the 60-day injured list with neck inflammation. With Smith returning to the mix and Rushing also back, the Dodgers now have a different look at catcher, and the next question is how they sort out the playing time and depth chart from here. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Chose Caution With A September Call-Up Fans Wanted More From
The Dodgers had a chance to make their September roster move feel a little more electric, but instead they leaned into a safer, more practical option. Rather than bringing up one of the more buzzed-about young bats in James Tibbs III or Josue De Paula after Dave Roberts hinted a left-handed hitter might be on the way, the club recalled infielder Alex Freeland. It is the kind of choice that says as much about roster flexibility as it does about patience.
Freelands recent Triple-A numbers have been more modest than the kind of run that typically forces a promotion, while Tibbs has been the hotter name for those looking for a bigger jolt. Still, the Dodgers seem content to take the longer view with their top prospects for now, even if it means leaving fans to wonder when the next wave of youth will arrive. The move also keeps the outfield picture a little cleaner for Tommy Edman, which may have been part of the calculus all along. [Read more 🡒]