Dodgers’ Top Prospect Dalton Rushing Floated as Trade Candidate for Rays

The Los Angeles Dodgers have just a few clear needs coming into the trade deadline. With their pitching staff in tatters, they could use a reliable reliever or another solid starter if their rotation should be dealt more setbacks.

In a recent article, former MLB GM Jim Bowden paired the Tampa Bay Rays and Dodgers as potential trade partners. In his piece for The Athletic, Bowden floated Dodgers’ top prospect, Dalton Rushing (MLB Pipeline’s no. 15 prospect), as a potential target for the Rays.

“It seems like the Rays are always searching for their long-term solution at catcher but never seem to be able to acquire an impact player for the position, which could happen again this trade deadline,” Bowden writes while discussing the Rays’ main deficiency.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) hits a three-run home run in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium. 

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Despite their lagging offense, the Rays own a 36-31 record, keeping them well within contention. As Bowden mentions, the position of catcher has been at the forefront of their hitting woes. The combination of Danny Jansen and Ben Rortvedt has failed to produce for the Rays. Jansen, their primary catcher, is hitting .197 with five home runs this season.

After being called up just last month, Rushing is 7-for-36 with one home run. At the moment, his production is lagging behind that of Jansen’s; however, as Bowden notes, this would be a long-term solution. Rushing, who can also play in the outfield, is prized for making hard contact. Prior to his callup, he was hitting .308 with five home runs in Triple-A. With Will Smith as their backstop, chances are, the Dodgers won’t miss him too much. And seeing as how the Rays have plentiful pitching options, it would seem the two are a decent match in trade discussions.