The Los Angeles Dodgers received a positive update on Will Smith as he was recently cleared to resume baseball activities, but that hasn’t stopped them from considering a catching acquisition ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
The Dodgers aren’t alone in their pursuit of catching help as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are just a few of the other clubs looking to upgrade at the position.
And while the Dodgers don’t necessarily need a starting-caliber catcher with Dalton Rushing currently filling that role, they can’t be discounted from possibly making a move for Adley Rutschman, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Regarding the Dodgers' inclusion on that list, it's unlikely they would make a move for someone like Rutschman. Will Smith's health seems to be moving in the right direction, but when it comes to the Dodgers, it's naive to ever overlook them in any scenario.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) August 1, 2026
In addition to Rutschman, there are several notable catchers believed to be available, including Colorado Rockies All-Star Hunter Goodman and Liam Hicks of the Miami Marlins. Rutschman is viewed as the most likely to be traded at the deadline this year as he only has one more year of team control before potentially becoming a free agent after the 2027 season.
Any one of those players would represent a significant upgrade for an acquiring team and won’t come cheap. While the Dodgers are already set at catcher for the long term, they could feel inclined to make a splash if they don’t want to take on the added risk of relying on Smith to remain healthy through October given some of the unpredictability that can arise with a disc issue.
Furthermore, the Dodgers could decide to go all out in their quest to win a third consecutive World Series. They already acquired the biggest name available at this year’s trade deadline in two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal for three prospects.
Will the Dodgers trade for a new catcher?
Even if the Dodgers don’t land a frontline catcher before the trade deadline at 3 p.m. PT on Monday, it would behoove them to at least improve their depth at the position. Eliezer Alfonzo and Chuckie Robinson have both struggled offensively in limited opportunities as the backup catcher, so L.A. might want to add some competition to the mix.
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