Dodgers make major roster moves involving Will Smith before Cardinals series

The Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at home on Tuesday night. 

Before the series opener, the NL West club announced a flurry of roster moves, including an update on starting catcher Will Smith. 

"The Dodgers have activated catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing and LHP Justin Wrobleski from the injured list, and added IF Alex Freeland to the active roster," the Dodgers announced on X. "In order to make room on the roster, the Dodgers optioned OF Alek Thomas and designated catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment." 

The most significant news from that release is the return of Smith, a three-time All-Star backstop. 

The 31-year-old has been limited to just 52 games in 2026 due to an inflamed disc in his neck. He missed nearly three months of the regular season. 

Before the injury, Smith, a three-time World Series champion, was hitting .249/.338/.382 with six home runs and a .720 OPS. 

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At the trade deadline, the Dodgers acquired Hunter Feduccia from the Tampa Bay Rays and Ben Rortvedt from the New York Mets. 

At the time, Los Angeles had learned that backup catcher Dalton Rushing had suffered a slight tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow. 

Now that Smith and Rushing have been reinstated from the IL, Rortvedt, who made 16 appearances in his second stint with the Dodgers, has been DFA'd. 

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