\n
The Houston Astros are still shopping for a backup catcher as spring training approaches, and while the market has thinned out, a new name may have just become available at the perfect time. With Victor Caratini signing with the Twins earlier this offseason, Houston\u2019s options have narrowed, and a potential reunion with Christian V\u00e1zquez has been floated. But given V\u00e1zquez\u2019s age – he turns 35 this year – and likely price tag, the Astros might want to think twice before committing significant dollars to a veteran whose best days are behind him.<\/p>\n
Enter Ben Rortvedt.<\/p>\n
The Cincinnati Reds just designated the 28-year-old catcher for assignment following their surprise signing of Eugenio Su\u00e1rez. It\u2019s a classic roster crunch move – one that could quietly benefit a team like Houston, which is looking for a low-cost, defense-first option behind the plate.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s rewind a bit. Rortvedt ended last season with the Dodgers, who liked him enough to sign him to a one-year, $1.25 million deal.<\/p>\n
But with no minor league options left, the Dodgers tried to pass him through waivers – a gamble the Reds jumped on. Now, with Su\u00e1rez in the fold, Cincinnati has DFA\u2019d Rortvedt, possibly hoping he slips through waivers themselves.<\/p>\n
Given the current state of the catching market, that\u2019s a long shot.<\/p>\n
From Houston\u2019s perspective, Rortvedt checks a lot of boxes. No, he\u2019s not going to light up the scoreboard – his offensive numbers last season were rough, to say the least: a .152\/.240\/.205 slash line over 128 plate appearances with a 31 wRC+.<\/p>\n
But backup catchers aren\u2019t brought in to mash. They\u2019re brought in to manage a pitching staff, control the running game, and steal a few strikes behind the dish.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s where Rortvedt shines.<\/p>\n
His defensive profile is quietly strong. Baseball Savant grades him well in pitch framing and blocking, two areas that matter a lot when you\u2019re talking about a guy who\u2019s going to catch once or twice a week.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not the kind of backup who disrupts rhythm or gives pitchers pause – quite the opposite. He\u2019s a steady presence behind the plate, and that\u2019s exactly what you want when your starter needs a breather.<\/p>\n
And then there\u2019s the financial angle. The Astros are sitting just under $6 million from the first luxury tax threshold.<\/p>\n
Signing someone like V\u00e1zquez could eat into that cushion fast. Rortvedt, on the other hand, comes at a fraction of the cost and offers a similar defensive floor.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not a long-term solution, but he doesn\u2019t need to be. He\u2019s a plug-and-play backup who fits the budget and the role.<\/p>\n
At this point in the offseason, there\u2019s no Caratini left on the board. The Astros aren\u2019t going to find a backup with starter-level upside. What they need is someone who can handle the job quietly and professionally – someone who won\u2019t hurt them defensively and won\u2019t cost them flexibility elsewhere on the roster.<\/p>\n
Ben Rortvedt might not be the flashiest name, but he could be the right fit at the right time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IMAGE: Imagn Images The Houston Astros are still shopping for a backup catcher as spring training approaches, and while the market has thinned out, a new name… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":148934,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-148933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\n