Dodgers Face Catcher Conundrum Ahead of Trade Deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering a critical phase as the trade deadline approaches, with discussions swirling around potential targets like starting pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. However, the team may need to shift its focus to a more pressing issue: the catcher position.

Will Smith has been the Dodgers’ primary catcher since 2019, consistently playing over 110 games each season. Unfortunately, this year, his availability is in jeopardy. After participating in just 52 games, Smith is currently on the injured list, sidelined since June 5 due to an inflamed disk in his neck. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the situation, stating, “He’s taking a week of doing no activity to hopefully calm his neck down. … he hasn’t been able to get over the hump. … It just wasn’t recovering. It was flaring up.” The uncertainty surrounding Smith’s recovery adds a layer of complexity to the Dodgers’ plans as they approach the deadline.

In Smith’s absence, Dalton Rushing has stepped in, playing 62 games this season. Despite his potential, Rushing has had his struggles, including several passed balls, the latest of which allowed Jasson Dominguez to score during a recent game against the Yankees. Rushing’s most notable misstep came while pitching ace Shohei Ohtani was on the mound. Following a rocky two-inning stretch that left both players frustrated, Ohtani took charge of pitch-calling to stabilize the situation. Rushing later reflected on his performance, saying, “Good thing he’s as good as he is and he can take control of the game, but it’s pretty embarrassing. … I’m a grown man, and it’s a pretty tough pill to swallow.”

As Rushing struggles to find his rhythm—currently in a 0-for-14 slump—the Dodgers may need to consider internal options if they can’t secure another catcher before the deadline. One such option is Eliezer Alfonzo, a 26-year-old who made his major league debut on July 5 under tragic circumstances, having recently lost family members in earthquakes in Venezuela. Alfonzo, who spent nine years in the Detroit Tigers organization, has played in 10 games for the Dodgers this season and recorded his first major-league hit in a narrow 2-1 loss to the Yankees on July 19.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.