{"id":104794,"date":"2025-07-26T00:33:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T04:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=104794"},"modified":"2025-07-26T00:42:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T04:42:14","slug":"dodgers-trade-rumor-dalton-rushing-red-sox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/26\/dodgers-trade-rumor-dalton-rushing-red-sox\/","title":{"rendered":"Dodgers May Be Looking to Trade Rookie Backup Catcher"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The trade winds are blowing in Boston. Reports surfaced this morning that the Red Sox are interested in Los Angeles Dodgers backup catcher and former <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/03\/28\/nl-west-top-prospects-mlb-pipeline\/\" target=\"_self\">top prospect<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rushida01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dalton Rushing<\/a>. As if that wasn&#8217;t enough, the Dodgers were reportedly scouting the Boston minor-league system. Los Angeles has its eye on High-A prospects <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=clarke001bra&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Clarke<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=arias-008fra&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Franklin Arias<\/a>. Is there fire where there&#8217;s smoke?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97780\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97780\" style=\"width: 504px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-97780\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/USATSI_25466070_168400885_lowres-300x216.jpg\" alt=\"Dalton Rushing did not make the Dodgers' big league roster to start the season\" width=\"504\" height=\"363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/USATSI_25466070_168400885_lowres-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/USATSI_25466070_168400885_lowres-1024x736.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/USATSI_25466070_168400885_lowres-768x552.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/USATSI_25466070_168400885_lowres-1536x1103.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/USATSI_25466070_168400885_lowres-2048x1471.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97780\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Feb 20, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Dalton Rushing against the Chicago Cubs during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Red Sox Reportedly Interested in Trading for Dodgers Catcher Dalton Rushing<\/h2>\n<h3>Promising Prospects<\/h3>\n<p>Arias is a shortstop who is currently hitting .284.\u00a0Clarke is a starting pitcher and the number five prospect in the Red Sox organization. Regardless of the upside, it would make the Dodgers&#8217; minor league system even deeper.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The Red Sox have interest in Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing, their recently graduated top prospect, according to <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Sean_McAdam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Sean_McAdam<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Dodgers have also reportedly been scouting Red Sox top prospects Franklin Arias and Brandon Clarke. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/E8x5nL0dTn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/E8x5nL0dTn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BOSSportsGordo\/status\/1948733516297990422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>A Brief History of Time<\/h3>\n<p>Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has been loath to part with top prospects. In addition, the Dodgers have had a long-standing loyalty to their veterans. Furthermore, they have signed their primary catcher and perennial All-Star, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=smithwi05,smithwi04,smith-091wil,smith-088wil,smith-090wil,smith-094wil&amp;search=Will+Smith&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Will Smith<\/a>, to a long-term contract. As a result, they were trying to see if Rushing could play left field or third base as late as 2024.<\/p>\n<p>However, in <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/01\/28\/three-new-faces-dodgers-spring-training\/\" target=\"_self\">spring training this year,<\/a> Los Angeles announced that going forward,\u00a0Rushing would solely <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/03\/18\/dodgers-judgment-dalton-rushing\/\" target=\"_self\">focus on catching<\/a>. But there was no room for him on the roster. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barneau01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Austin Barnes<\/a> was the longest-tenured Dodger, a team captain, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kershcl01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Clayton Kershaw<\/a>&#8216;s preferred catcher, who was good at handling the pitching staff.<\/p>\n<h3>The Writing on the Wall?<\/h3>\n<p>However, the bottom of the order has struggled to sustain rallies, and\u00a0Barnes struggled to hit above a .200 when he was in the lineup. To make matters worse, he struggled defensively behind home plate, throwing out nary a runner. Consequently, the Dodgers released the veteran and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/05\/14\/dodgers-call-up-dalton-rushing-dfa-austin-barnes\/\" target=\"_self\">called up the rookie Rushing<\/a> for his first taste of the big leagues.<\/p>\n<h3>Assessing Needs<\/h3>\n<p>The Dodgers are in the market for at least one high-leverage reliever, as their bullpen has various injuries and has been largely ineffective in recent days. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/scottta01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tanner Scott<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kopecmi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Kopech<\/a> will miss significant time, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/y\/yateski01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kirby Yates<\/a> has been throwing gas on fires he is supposed to put out. Dodgers manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/roberda07.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dave Roberts<\/a> was open about Los Angeles shopping for a reliever, saying it&#8217;s a priority. But it isn&#8217;t the only hole the Dodgers have.<\/p>\n<p>The offensive output of the outfield, with the notable exception of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pagesan01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andy Pages<\/a>, has been less than optimal this year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hernate01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-25_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez<\/a> has not been a defensive master class in right field, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/05\/06\/dodgers-teoscar-hernandez-james-outman\/\" target=\"_self\">especially since his injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>So Will They or Won&#8217;t They?<\/h3>\n<p>The Dodgers won&#8217;t trade Rushing for two prospects. However, if they can get a shutdown reliever or two in exchange for him, they would probably pull the trigger. The same goes for a productive corner outfielder.<\/p>\n<h3>One Caveat<\/h3>\n<p>The only other reason for the Dodgers to trade Rushing for two prospects is if Friedman uses the same prospects to flip them in a multi-team trade or a bigger package later. Of course, stranger things have happened at the trade deadline. The only guarantee is the Dodgers will do something; the only question is when. With less than a week to go, we don&#8217;t have long to wait.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: \u00a9 NATHAN J. FISH\/THE OKLAHOMAN \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The trade winds are blowing in Boston. Reports surfaced this morning that the Red Sox are interested in Los Angeles Dodgers backup catcher and former top prospect Dalton Rushing. As if that wasn&#8217;t enough, the Dodgers were reportedly scouting the Boston minor-league system. Los Angeles has its eye on High-A prospects Brandon Clarke and Franklin [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5226,"featured_media":100392,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33,4,1071,35],"tags":[28464,2914,29081,28402,257,28775,1198],"class_list":["post-104794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dodgers","category-redsox","category-mlb","category-news","tag-andy-pages","tag-austin-barnes","tag-brandon-clarke","tag-dalton-rushing","tag-dave-roberts","tag-franklin-arias","tag-teoscar-hernandez"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104794"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104794\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":104809,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104794\/revisions\/104809"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}