The Dodgers have one of those rare problems that only a stacked roster can create: there’s not enough room for everybody.
Dalton Rushing has done his part to make the conversation real. When he’s gotten on the field this year, he’s shown he can be a special young hitter.
The issue is that his natural position is catcher, and Will Smith already has that job locked down. The designated hitter spot is spoken for too, with Shohei Ohtani occupying it.
Rushing has the athleticism to be looked at elsewhere, but Los Angeles is crowded almost everywhere you turn.
That’s why ESPN’s Jeff Passan floated the idea of a Rushing trade in a Thursday article. He framed it around the Texas Rangers as a possible fit for their catching needs, but the point goes beyond one team. Rushing could draw interest from plenty of clubs.
"And while by no means are the Dodgers shopping Rushing, they've got Will Smith at catcher and some guy at DH, and opportunities will be limited for the foreseeable future," Passan writes. "Were Rushing to move, the Rangers wouldn't be the only ones interested.
(Imagine that left-handed swing at Yankee Stadium.) But president of baseball operations Chris Young loves fiery players, and the fit goes well beyond need."
If the Dodgers decide Rushing is available, they’d have no trouble generating a strong return. A player with his profile would bring back a significant prospect haul.
But they don’t have to move him. That’s the other part of this equation.
With so much talent already in place, Los Angeles can simply keep Rushing and live with the best depth in baseball. For a team built like this one, standing pat is hardly a bad outcome.
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