Dodgers trade for 2 former catchers immediately before MLB deadline

The Dodgers weren’t married to Eliezer Alfonzo or Chuckie Robinson as their third-strong catcher. With All-Star Will Smith on the injured list, and his backup (Dalton Rushing) dealing with a minor injury just before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, they picked up two familiar names.

>Catchers Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia were re-acquired in separate trades before the 6 p.m. MLB trade deadline, clarifying the Dodgers’ catcher situation for the final two months of the regular season.

>The two acquisitions were relatively minor in the grand scheme. If and when both Smith and Rushing are healthy, they will be the Dodgers’ catching tandem.

>MORE: Yankees make trade for Giants’ All-Star outfielder

>The Dodgers did their heavy lifting on Saturday when they acquired Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. The two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner will make his debut Tuesday, Aug. 4 in Chicago.

>The question now is who will be behind the plate.

>Rortvedt, 28, was recently designated for assignment by the New York Mets. Reliever Chayce McDermott, recently DFA’d by the Dodgers, heads to New York in return.

>Feduccia, 29, cost the Dodgers two minor leaguers who are headed to Tampa Bay: outfielder Jack Suwinski and right-handed pitcher Jacob Kmatz.

>Feduccia made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2024, and he was traded to the Rays in July 2025 in a deadline-day deal that sent Rortvedt to the Dodgers.

>More to come on this story

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