Overview
- This week the Dodgers stopped all baseball activity for three-time All-Star Will Smith after an inflamed disc in his neck produced flare-ups during rehab and slowed recovery.
- The club’s medical staff moved to a full-rest strategy after limited progress and reported that Smith currently has no pain but has not yet 'gotten over the hump,' making a mid‑August return the earliest realistic target.
- Rookie Dalton Rushing has handled most catching duties and supplied strong offense but has struggled defensively, including a recent passed ball, which has renewed concerns about relying on him for a playoff rotation of games.
- With the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching, analysts and team voices urge the Dodgers to prioritize a short-term, cost-controlled catcher—names such as Ben Rortvedt have been singled out for their defensive readiness and familiarity with Los Angeles.
- Smith’s absence matters beyond daily lineup choices because he has been a key postseason performer for the Dodgers, so the team faces a tradeoff between preserving assets for a pitching upgrade and securing reliable defensive depth behind the plate.