The long and winding road of the Ben Rortvedt offseason boomerang has returned once again to Los Angeles. The Dodgers claimed the catcher off waivers from the Reds, the inverse of what happened way back on November 12. To make room for Rortvedt on the 40-man roster, pitcher Anthony Banda was designated for assignment.

Cincinnati designated Rortvedt for assignment on Tuesday when they finalized a one-year deal for slugger Eugenio Suárez.

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Rortvedt has played in the majors of four of the last five seasons (2021, 2023-25) for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Dodgers. Los Angeles acquired the catcher in a three-team trade on July 31, when Rortvedt was off the 40-man roster.

With injuries to both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing in September, Rortvedt not only found his way back to the majors but also started 15 of the Dodgers’ final 21 regular season games behind the plate. He also started the first four postseason games for Los Angeles until Smith was ready to return from a broken hand, and Rortvedt remained active for the entirety of the postseason.

Rortvedt signed a $1.25 million deal for 2026 in November to avoid salary arbitration, and per the collective bargaining agreement all such deals for arbitration-eligible players outside of a hearing are guaranteed.

Rortvedt is out of minor league options, having used options from 2021-23, so the Dodgers will be in the same boat with him as before if Smith and Rushing are both healthy and active come opening day, as expected. The Dodgers tried to get Rortvedt through waivers in November, hoping to keep him around as catching depth off the 40-man roster, before the Reds claimed him.

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Banda also avoided salary arbitration this winter, signing a one-year, $1.625 million contract in January. Banda is used to bouncing around, having pitched for seven major league teams in his first seven seasons before finding some semblance of stability in the Dodgers bullpen.

The veteran Banda is also out of options, though that didn’t hinder him from sticking around and pitching in important games over the last two seasons.

In 2024-25 in Los Angeles, Banda had a 3.14 ERA and 3.46 xERA in 119 games, with 111 strikeouts and 52 walks in 114 2/3 innings, his best two seasons by ERA, games, innings, and strikeouts. The left-hander was a workhorse in the last two postseason, pitching in 17 of the Dodgers’ 33 games.