The Dodgers may be the reigning back-to-back World Series champs, but if there’s one thing this front office has proven time and again, it’s that no roster spot is too small to matter. Even in a spring training where most of the big pieces are locked in, the margins are still moving-and they’re still meaningful.
Friday brought a flurry of roster shuffling that might not make headlines, but for a team as deep and calculated as the Dodgers, these moves are worth a closer look. Let’s break it down.
Ibáñez Claimed, Depth Chart Shifts
The Dodgers lost infielder Andy Ibáñez to a waiver claim by the Oakland A’s-just 24 days after signing him to a guaranteed one-year, $1.2 million deal. On paper, it might seem like a minor loss. But Ibáñez was more than just a depth signing; he was a contingency plan.
With Tommy Edman recovering from offseason ankle surgery and Kiké Hernández still expected to re-sign but recovering from elbow surgery, the Dodgers were clearly hedging their bets. Edman’s Opening Day status is up in the air, and even if he’s ready, the team will likely be cautious with his workload early on. Hernández, meanwhile, has all but ruled himself out for the opener.
Ibáñez offered versatility, a solid bat against lefties (.778 career OPS), and the ability to plug in across the infield. His presence also helped the club manage Miguel Rojas’ workload in what’s expected to be his final season. And with young options like Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland still unproven at the big-league level, Ibáñez was a valuable insurance policy.
But he was out of minor-league options and didn’t have the service time to refuse a demotion. The Dodgers tried to sneak him through waivers, hoping to stash him as Triple-A depth.
The A’s had other plans, claiming him and taking on the full $1.2 million salary. It’s a rare move-signing a player in free agency only to lose him before spring training even begins-but it opens the door for Kim and Freeland to make a stronger case this spring.
Rortvedt Returns, Catching Depth Gets a Boost
The Dodgers also claimed catcher Ben Rortvedt off waivers, bringing him back into the fold after losing him to Cincinnati in November. To make room, they designated lefty reliever Anthony Banda for assignment-a fan favorite who played a significant role in the bullpen the past two seasons.
Rortvedt’s return adds some intrigue behind the plate. When the Dodgers waived him in the offseason, it signaled confidence in top catching prospect Dalton Rushing stepping into a bigger role behind Will Smith.
But Smith’s injury late last season gave Rortvedt an extended look, and he made the most of it. Now, with only Smith and Rushing on the 40-man roster and Chuckie Robinson the only other catcher in the organization with MLB experience, the Dodgers clearly felt the need for more stability.
Rortvedt is familiar with the staff and has already spent time navigating the Dodgers’ pitching infrastructure. That familiarity could go a long way in spring training, especially as the team looks to iron out any lingering pitch-calling concerns that surfaced when he was thrown into the fire last season.
He’s out of options, though, and on a $1.25 million deal. If Rushing wins the backup job, the Dodgers could find themselves in another Ibáñez-like situation-trying to sneak a player through waivers to retain depth.
Rushing, for his part, knows he’s got work to do. After a rocky debut offensively, he’s spent the offseason retooling his swing, aiming for a more consistent approach that can hold up even in limited playing time. The tools are there, but the Dodgers have the luxury of patience with his minor-league options still intact.
Banda’s Exit: A Numbers Game in the Bullpen
No pitcher logged more innings for the Dodgers in 2025 than Anthony Banda. At 32, he found his stride in L.A., posting a 3.14 ERA over two seasons after the team helped him revamp his slider and tighten up his command.
But the numbers behind the ERA told a different story last season. Banda’s strikeout rate dipped, his walk rate climbed, and his FIP (4.52) suggested some regression was already in motion. His platoon splits were stark-dominant against lefties (.496 OPS) but vulnerable to righties (.774 OPS).
More importantly, he became a redundancy. The Dodgers already had five other left-handed relievers on the 40-man roster: Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer, Justin Wrobleski, and Ronan Kopp. Banda, out of options and carrying a $1.625 million salary, was the odd man out.
Still, he’s not likely to be unemployed for long. Quality lefty relievers are always in demand, and Banda’s recent success in L.A. makes him a viable trade chip. The Dodgers have pulled off similar deals before-moving Caleb Ferguson to the Yankees last spring and flipping Ryan Brasier to the Cubs after designating him for assignment.
This is the Dodgers doing what they do best: managing the margins, keeping the roster flexible, and staying a step ahead. These aren’t blockbuster moves, but they’re the kind of decisions that quietly shape a season. And for a team with championship expectations, those decisions matter just as much as the headline-grabbing ones.