Dodgers Lose Two Players on Wednesday

However, as the team monitors opportunities to make a splash, its depth took a hit on Wednesday. The Dodgers lost two players after placing them on waivers: catcher Ben Rortvedt was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds, and right-hander Tony Gonsolin elected free agency.

“Catcher Ben Rortvedt was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds and RHP Tony Gonsolin was outrighted and selected free agency,” the team wrote on X.

Both players appeared on the big-league roster in 2025, and Rortvedt even logged starts behind the plate during the postseason. He was a steady presence while All-Star catcher Will Smith was sidelined with injury in September.

Over 18 games with Los Angeles, Rortvedt posted a .224 batting average, .309 on-base percentage and .636 OPS, one home run and four RBIs. He had only recently joined the organization, acquired at the trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays. With the Reds, the 28-year-old is likely to see more playing time, especially with Smith still entrenched as the Dodgers’ long-term catcher and Dalton Rushing emerging as a promising young option.

As for Gonsolin, his decision to test free agency marks the end of a six-year run in Los Angeles. Once viewed as a rising star, he finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2020 and earned an All-Star nod in 2022. That season, he went 16–1 with a 2.14 ERA and 119 strikeouts. But injuries have derailed his career since then. He made just seven starts in 2025, with noticeable dips in velocity and production. Gonsolin will now look for a fresh opportunity elsewhere, hoping to land a big-league contract and revive his career.