Former Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment by the New York Mets, meaning he will miss the Opening Day roster.
Rortvedt was lined up to be the third catcher on the Mets, who previously waived fellow former Dodger Austin Barnes, as Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens were both poised to secure the two catcher spots on the active roster.
Teams do not carry a third catcher, and as a result, Rortvedt was waived due to his lack of any more option years on his contract.
Back in November, Rortvedt and the Dodgers agreed to a $1.25 million deal to avoid arbitration, but the Dodgers would soon waive him, leading to his being picked up by the Cincinnati Reds.
After a brief stint with the Reds, Rortvedt was waived again and then picked up by the Dodgers after Los Angeles moved on from Anthony Banda.
Rortvedt was on the move yet again when the Dodgers added Evan Phillips to the 40-man roster, resulting in a waiver claim by the Mets.
He was added to New York’s team as a fallback option in case of an injury to either Torrens or Alvarez.
The 28-year-old hit .167/.222/.208 with the Mets during Spring Training, with two walks, six strikeouts, and four hits, one of which was a double.
During his time with the Dodgers, he was celebrated for his work with pitchers, serving as a quality framer and defensive backstop.
He played for the Dodgers in the postseason, going 3-for-7 at the plate with an RBI.
Ben Rortvedt’s message to Dodgers fans
Following his initial claim by the Reds, Rortvedt thanked Dodgers fans for their support during his time with the team.
“It was tough when I came in, but I really appreciate the support,” he said. “It’s been really cool to come in and try to do my job but feel support from the fans and be able to be myself.”
Rortvedt’s story in MLB is far from over, as his skill set will still lead to further opportunities, especially as injuries come about. If anything, the Dodgers could be an option down the road if he is still available.
