The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Evan Phillips to a one-year deal on Wednesday and designated Ben Rortvedt for assignment to make room for Phillips on the 40-man roster.
Rortvedt ended the season on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster and signed a $1.25 million deal to avoid arbitration. The Dodgers placed him on waivers in hopes of him clearing and being stashed in Triple-A. However, the Cincinnati Reds claimed him on Nov. 12.
The Reds designated Rortvedt for assignment on Feb. 3 and the Dodgers claimed him on Wednesday. He will now likely be placed back on waivers. If he clears waivers, the Dodgers can outright him to Triple-A.
“He has enough service time to reject an outright in favor of free agency but not enough to do so while retaining his guaranteed salary,” wrote MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams.
Rortvedt could clear waivers and simply accept his outright assignment to Triple-A if that’s what the Dodgers choose to do. However, there’s no guarantee he clears waivers. He is a great defender and would be solid catching depth for any organization.
He is not a great hitter, however. He has a .190/.279/.270 slash line in his four-year MLB career. He has played in 227 big league games and played a small role in the Dodgers winning a World Series last season. He went 3-for-7 in the postseason and served as the catcher in the regular season when Will Smith was hurt.
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