Rortvedt accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Durham on Sunday after clearing waivers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt cleared waivers after Tampa Bay designated him for assignment Wednesday, and because he's logged more than three years of MLB service time, he had the ability to reject a minor-league assignment. After weighing his options, however, Rortvedt determined he was best suited remaining in the Tampa Bay organization. He's no longer on the Rays' 40-man roster but could get a call-up if Tampa Bay loses fellow catchers Danny Jansen or Matt Thaiss to an injury at any point.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: DFA'd by Tampa Bay
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The Rays designated Rortvedt for assignment Wednesday.
Tampa Bay's acquisition of Matt Thaiss on Tuesday set the stage for Rortvedt to lose his place on the 26-man active roster and 40-man roster, though he still started Tuesday versus Minnesota and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The 27-year-old backstop will now be exposed to waivers. Rortvedt is regarded as a good defender, but he posted a modest .620 OPS in 2024 and has been far less productive over 70 plate appearances this season, slashing .095/.186/.111.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Likely to lose roster spot
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The Rays are expected to designate Rortvedt for assignment Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt is slashing just .100/.194/.117 through 67 plate appearances on the season and currently sits as the third catcher on Tampa Bay's roster following the acquisition of Matt Thaiss from Chicago on Tuesday. Rortvedt's place on the depth chart makes him the obvious choice to lose his spot once Thaiss is activated, and the former's poor performance could cause him to pass through waivers unclaimed.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Rare offensive contribution
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Rortvedt went 1-for-3 with three RBI and a walk Sunday against the Blue Jays.
Rortvedt has had brief spells as the Rays' primary catcher this season, but he has started every third game since mid-May. Rortvedt offers some defensive value, but even with Sunday's strong effort, he has only six hits across 60 at-bats for the season with one extra-base hit.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Losing work to Jansen
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Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Though he had seemed to be moving into the strong side of a platoon at catcher with Danny Jansen, the left-handed-hitting Rortvedt will end up hitting the bench Wednesday for a third straight matchup versus a right-handed starting pitcher. Rortvedt is heralded for his defense behind the plate and his quick pop time, but he's been an easy out at the plate this season with a .196 on-base percentage.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Sitting against righty
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Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Rortvedt had started each of the Rays' last five matchups against right-handed pitchers, but he'll give way to Danny Jansen behind the dish Sunday versus Chad Patrick. The arrangement between the two backstops hasn't been paying off lately; Rortvedt and Jansen have gone a combined 3-for-29 through the Rays' first nine games in May.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: May be in strong side of platoon
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Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Though he'll hit the bench Wednesday against Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez, but the left-handed-hitting Rortvedt may have taken control of a strong-side platoon role at catcher with Danny Jansen. Rortvedt has started in each of the Rays' last four matchups with right-handed pitchers.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Playing time ticking up
Rotowire
Rortvedt went 1-for-3 with two RBI, a walk and a run scored Saturday against the Yankees.
Rortvedt drew his third start in five games, all of which have come at catcher and at the expense of Danny Jansen, who has just a .486 OPS through 53 plate appearances. Rortvedt is typically not much of a contributor at the plate himself however, and he now has two hits across 21 at-bats to begin 2025.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Getting fourth start of season
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Rortvedt will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Angels.
Rortvedt will enter the lineup for just the fourth time this season, with Danny Jansen drawing the other eight starts behind the plate through the Rays' first 12 games. Jansen is slashing a lowly .038/.194/.038 through his 31 plate appearances, so Rortvedt could work his way into more of a timeshare if he can provide more of an offensive spark in his future starts.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Catching in Thursday's game
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Rortvedt (shoulder) will start at catcher and bat fifth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
After getting an injection to relieve pain in his sore right shoulder, Rortvedt had been limited to designated-hitter duties in his last two spring games, but he'll step in behind the plate Thursday for the first time since Feb. 23. Provided that the shoulder issue provides no complications with his throwing over the rest of the spring, Rortvedt will be part of a timeshare at catcher with Danny Jansen to open the season.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Returns to action as DH on Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt (shoulder) went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League play.
Rortvedt played for the first time since receiving an injection in his sore right shoulder early last week, though he was limited to a non-defensive role. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Rortvedt will be available off the bench again Monday versus Atlanta, but if called upon to play, the 27-year-old will most likely replace starting designated hitter Eloy Jimenez. According to MLB.com, the Rays are targeting Thursday's game versus the Phillies for Rortvedt's return to catching duty, assuming his throwing is no longer compromised by the shoulder issue.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Gets injection for sore shoulder
Rotowire
Rortvedt will not be allowed to throw for 3-to-4 days after receiving an injection Wednesday in his sore right shoulder, MLB.com reports.
The Rays are hopeful Rortvedt will be ready to return to Grapefruit League play shortly after the brief shutdown period. He's slated to open the season as the team's No.2 catcher behind Danny Jansen.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Nursing sore shoulder
Rotowire
Rortvedt will be held out of action for a few days with right shoulder soreness, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
The Rays do not seem worried that it could be a long-term issue for the catcher. Rortvedt is projected to open the season as the backup behind Danny Jansen.
The Rays and Rortvedt avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.125 million contract Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He was eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. Rortvedt led Rays catchers with 328 plate appearances in 2024 but is slated to take a back seat to Danny Jansen in 2025.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Idle Friday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Boston.
After making four straight starts behind the dish, Rortvedt will yield to Logan Driscoll on Friday for the second time in three games. Rortvedt hasn't logged multiple hits in a game since Aug. 8.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Receiving rest Wednesday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Rortvedt will get a breather after he went 2-for-7 with an RBI while starting behind the plate in each of the Rays' last three games. Logan Driscoll will fill in for Rortvedt at catcher.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Grabbing seat Friday
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Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.
Rortvedt is sporting an unsightly .136/.214/.173 batting line with a 32.6 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of August. He will yield to Logan Driscoll on Friday in the series opener.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Out of Tampa Bay lineup
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Red Sox.
It's a routine day off for Rortvedt. Logan Driscoll will handle the catching duties for the Rays in Tuesday's series opener.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Not starting Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in Saturday's lineup against the Guardians.
Rortvedt has been getting the majority of the reps behind the plate for the Rays, but he'll be out of the lineup for the second straight game. Logan Driscoll -- who smacked the first homer of his career Friday -- will take Rortvedt's spot in the lineup.
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