Could Dalton Rushing be traded? MLB Insider thinks so

The Los Angeles Dodgers, fresh off a World Series win, still have a lot of work to do on their roster and could look to make some trades instead of addressing their issues in free agency.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com has listed a trade candidate for every team in the MLB this offseason and believes backup catcher Dalton Rushing is the most likely Dodger to be shipped this offseason.

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Rushing played 53 games in 2025, though he underperformed slightly with the bat. He posted a .582 OPS with a batting average just north of the Mendoza line, along with his four home runs and 24 RBIs. Rushing is clearly below All-Star catcher Will Smith in the Dodgers’ pecking order, so moving is one of the options for him to find consistent playing time.

“Rushing was the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect in 2024, and while he was disappointing in a backup role in 2025, he remains one of the best prospects in the game,” Fine sand serif. “With Will Smith locked up until 2033, Rushing’s long-term fit on the roster remains unknown. The Dodgers don’t have another catcher on their 40-man roster, so while they aren’t eager to move Rushing, it wouldn’t be a shock to use him as the centerpiece for a major trade.”

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The Dodgers apparently don’t want to trade Rushing, as the THE TIMES’ Jack Harris reported that they were looking into trying out the catcher in the outfield.

“The door also remains open for backup catcher Dalton Rushing to potentially get some time in the outfield again after struggling with limited playing time behind Will Smith,” Harris wrote.

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This move will benefit both sides, as the Dodgers will fill the hole left after Michael Conforto’s departure and Rushing will be able to find more consistent playing time.

Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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