Dodgers Make Flurry of September Roster Moves as Will Smith, Dalton Rushing Return
The Los Angeles Dodgers did far more than simply expand their roster Tuesday.
They reshaped it.
With September active rosters increasing from 26 to 28 players, Los Angeles activated Will Smith, Dalton Rushing and Justin Wrobleski from the injured list, recalled Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City, optioned Alek Thomas, and designated Ben Rortvedt for assignment.
That alone would have made Sept. 1 one of the Dodgers’ busiest transaction days of the second half.
But the organization did not stop there.
Los Angeles also completed a minor-league trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, sending right-hander José Rodríguez to Toronto in exchange for 20-year-old right-hander Sebastian Rodriguez. The Dodgers then assigned Sebastian Rodriguez to their Dominican Summer League affiliate.
And one more injured pitcher officially moved closer to returning: Kris Bubic began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, throwing a scoreless inning Tuesday night.
Taken together, the moves provide a much clearer picture of how the Dodgers intend to approach September.
Will Smith Activated From 60-Day Injured List
The biggest move was the return of Smith.
Los Angeles activated its starting catcher from the 60-day injured list after nearly three months away because of an inflamed disc in his neck.
Smith completed his rehab assignment with Oklahoma City last week and returned to the starting lineup Tuesday against St. Louis.
Manager Dave Roberts said Smith’s experience, presence in the batter’s box and ability to manage the pitching staff are all important pieces the Dodgers have been missing.
The club does not plan to immediately push him into a full everyday workload.
Smith and Hunter Feduccia will initially handle the catching responsibilities, with Smith expected to catch approximately every other day while continuing to build back his workload.
That makes his activation about more than adding another hitter.
The Dodgers are getting their primary catcher back just as they begin determining how their pitching staff will look in October.
Ben Rortvedt Designated for Assignment
Smith’s return also created the most significant subtraction of the day.
The Dodgers designated Ben Rortvedt for assignment.
Because Smith had been on the 60-day IL, Los Angeles needed to return him to the 40-man roster. Rortvedt was removed to create that space.
It brought an abrupt end to Rortvedt’s second stint with the organization.
Los Angeles had reacquired him from the Mets before the trade deadline while both Smith and Rushing were unavailable. At the time, the Dodgers needed emergency catching depth because their two primary options were injured.
That emergency has now passed.
Smith is back.
Rushing is back.
Feduccia remains available behind the plate.
With the position suddenly crowded again, Rortvedt became expendable.
The DFA means the Dodgers now have a limited period to trade him, place him on waivers or potentially outright him if he clears.
Dalton Rushing Activated — But His Role Is Different
Rushing’s return may be one of the more interesting moves.
The Dodgers activated him from the 10-day injured list after a partial tear in the UCL of his right elbow.
However, he is not expected to resume normal catching duties immediately.
MLB reports that Rushing has begun a throwing program but remains questionable to catch again this season. For now, the Dodgers plan to use him primarily as a hitter.
That changes how Rushing fits on the roster.
Instead of serving primarily as Smith’s backup, he becomes another left-handed offensive option for Roberts.
That is particularly relevant because the Dodgers spent the final days of August discussing ways to add more left-handed balance to the bench.
Rushing can pinch-hit.
He can potentially see time at designated hitter.
And depending on his physical progress, the Dodgers could eventually expand his defensive responsibilities.
But for now, his bat is the priority.
Justin Wrobleski Returns in a New Role
Los Angeles also activated Justin Wrobleski from the 15-day IL after the left-hander recovered from left forearm inflammation.
Unlike earlier in the season, Wrobleski is not coming back as part of the regular rotation.
The Dodgers are using him as a multi-inning reliever during the stretch run.
That could be particularly valuable during September.
Los Angeles is currently playing nine consecutive games without an off-day, and the club continues to carefully manage the workload of several starting pitchers.
A reliever capable of covering two or three innings gives Roberts considerably more flexibility.
Wrobleski made his return Tuesday night, allowing three runs — two earned — over two innings while striking out four against St. Louis.
The outing was uneven, but his September role appears clear.
He is another potential bridge between the rotation and the high-leverage bullpen.
Alex Freeland Recalled From Triple-A
The Dodgers also recalled Alex Freeland from Oklahoma City.
That move became especially interesting because Los Angeles had spent the previous few days hinting that it wanted to add another left-handed offensive option.
Rather than promoting James Tibbs III, Ryan Ward or Hyeseong Kim, the Dodgers chose Freeland.
Freeland is a switch hitter who gives the Dodgers additional infield flexibility.
Roberts suggested he could receive some opportunities against right-handed pitching at second base, which would allow Tommy Edman to move to center field more often.
That is an important distinction.
The Dodgers were considering adding an outfielder who could potentially cut into Teoscar Hernández’s playing time.
Instead, Roberts said the decision not to bring up an outfielder represented something of a vote of confidence in Hernández.
The team is giving Teoscar more time to correct his struggles before making a more dramatic lineup change.
Freeland therefore gives Roberts another lineup configuration without directly replacing Hernández.
Alek Thomas Optioned to Oklahoma City
To create room on the active roster, Los Angeles optioned Alek Thomas to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Thomas had been recalled after Andy Pages suffered a fractured left hand in August.
He provided speed and defensive coverage in the outfield, but his offensive production remained limited.
With Smith and Rushing returning and Freeland joining the active roster, the Dodgers chose to send Thomas back to Triple-A.
The move does not remove him from the 40-man roster.
He remains organizational depth and can be recalled again if the Dodgers need another true center fielder later in September.
Dodgers Make Surprise Trade With Blue Jays
The most unusual move of the day came away from the Major League roster.
Los Angeles traded 25-year-old right-hander José Rodríguez to Toronto for 20-year-old right-hander Sebastian Rodriguez.
At first glance, a trade on Sept. 1 might look strange because MLB’s main trade deadline passed Aug. 3.
But this deal was permitted because both players were eligible minor leaguers who were not on 40-man rosters. Certain minor-league players can still be traded after the MLB deadline under those circumstances.
José Rodríguez had spent much of 2026 with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
He posted a 3.38 ERA in 21 games this season after returning from an ACL injury, and he had steadily climbed through the Dodgers system since signing out of Mexico in 2019.
The Dodgers were facing a potential decision on him later anyway.
Because Rodríguez was not on the 40-man roster and could become vulnerable to offseason roster mechanisms, Los Angeles appears to have chosen to convert that short-term depth into a younger developmental arm.
Who Is Sebastian Rodriguez?
Sebastian Rodriguez is much further from the Major Leagues.
The Venezuelan right-hander is just 20 years old and signed with Toronto as an international free agent in June.
He made seven appearances in the Dominican Summer League, posting a 6.00 ERA over nine innings with 11 strikeouts and three walks.
The Dodgers assigned him to DSL LAD Bautista after completing the trade.
This is therefore not a move designed to help the 2026 Dodgers.
It is a long-term development play.
Los Angeles moved an older Triple-A pitcher who faced uncertain future roster status for a much younger arm with several years of development ahead of him.
That is classic organizational roster management rather than a major-league deadline acquisition.
Kris Bubic Begins Rehab Assignment
Another transaction did not affect the active roster Tuesday, but it could matter later this month.
The Dodgers officially sent Kris Bubic to Triple-A Oklahoma City on a rehab assignment.
Bubic made his Dodgers organizational debut Tuesday night and worked a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, throwing 17 pitches, 10 for strikes.
Los Angeles acquired Bubic from Kansas City at the deadline, but he has been on the 60-day injured list.
His rehab beginning now gives the Dodgers yet another pitcher who could become available during September.
The pitching staff is already becoming crowded.
Gavin Stone is nearing the end of his rehab assignment.
Emmet Sheehan is pitching well at Triple-A.
Blake Treinen is nearing a return.
Wrobleski is already back.
Bubic has now officially entered the rehab phase.
That is a very different pitching picture than the Dodgers had even a few weeks ago.
Full Dodgers Transaction List From Sept. 1
The major moves were:
C Will Smith activated from the 60-day IL
C Dalton Rushing activated from the 10-day IL
LHP Justin Wrobleski activated from the 15-day IL
INF Alex Freeland recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City
OF Alek Thomas optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City
C Ben Rortvedt designated for assignment
RHP José Rodríguez traded to Toronto
RHP Sebastian Rodriguez acquired from Toronto
Sebastian Rodriguez assigned to DSL LAD Bautista
LHP Kris Bubic sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City on a rehab assignment
That is a substantial amount of roster movement for one day.
Why the Dodgers Made So Many Moves at Once
Sept. 1 is naturally a transaction-heavy date because active rosters expand from 26 players to 28.
But the Dodgers had additional circumstances converging at the same time.
Smith was healthy.
Rushing was ready to hit.
Wrobleski was ready to pitch.
The bench needed more flexibility.
The bullpen needed length.
And the club is beginning to make decisions about which players can actually help during October.
Those factors produced a broader reshuffling than simply adding two September call-ups.
The Dodgers effectively upgraded both sides of their bench while adding another multi-inning pitching option.
They also reduced an overcrowded catching group and made a developmental trade that has nothing to do with this year’s postseason but could help the farm system later.
The Most Important Move Is Still Smith
Among all the transactions, Smith’s return stands above the rest.
The Dodgers can experiment with Freeland.
They can use Rushing as a left-handed bat.
They can evaluate Wrobleski out of the bullpen.
But Smith is an established part of the championship core.
Los Angeles has spent nearly three months without its starting catcher.
Getting him back allows Roberts to restore some normalcy to the lineup and gives the pitching staff its primary game-caller again.
The Dodgers hope that matters immediately.
Their offense struggled through much of August, finishing the month 13-14.
Smith will not fix that alone.
But his return gives Los Angeles one more proven hitter at precisely the point where the club needs its regular lineup to begin producing again.
September Is Becoming an Audition for October
These transactions also reveal something larger.
The Dodgers are transitioning from surviving injuries to choosing roles.
For much of the season, the question was simply who was healthy enough to play.
Now there may be too many options.
Smith and Feduccia can handle catching.
Rushing can provide another bat.
Freeland adds versatility.
Thomas remains depth in Triple-A.
Wrobleski can work multiple innings.
Stone and Sheehan are pushing for opportunities.
Bubic is beginning rehab.
Treinen is nearing activation.
And James Tibbs III remains in Triple-A if Los Angeles eventually decides it needs a larger offensive shakeup.
That creates difficult decisions.
It also creates competition.
Over the next several weeks, Roberts and the front office will not just be trying to win games.
They will be deciding who deserves a place on the postseason roster.
Tuesday's moves were the beginning of that process.
The Dodgers added reinforcements, created flexibility and made one difficult cut.
More decisions are coming.