Mets Claim Catcher Ben Rortvedt, Move Dedniel Núñez to 60-Day IL

Ben Rortvedt, the 2025 World Series champion who started the Dodgers’ first four playoff games, was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, and the club transferred right‑handed reliever Dedniel Núñez to the 60‑day injured list to create the 40‑man roster spot. Anthony DiComo reported from Port St. Lucie that the Mets “made another addition to their catching depth on Sunday, claiming World Series champion Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Dodgers.”

The move gives a clear roster-impact explanation: the Mets are protecting catching depth behind Francisco Álvarez and Luis Torrens while keeping a low-cost veteran option available. MLB reporting notes Álvarez and Torrens are “overwhelmingly likely to be the only two catchers on the Opening Day roster,” and camp also includes Hayden Senger, Austin Barnes, and four other backstops. Empire Sports Media framed Rortvedt’s role succinctly: “Rortvedt won’t make headlines, but he doesn’t need to. The Mets signed him to be a defensive specialist who can handle spot starts and give their primary catcher occasional rest. His bat might be non-existent, but his glove keeps him relevant.”

Rortvedt’s recent résumé explains the interest. He rode a DFA carousel this winter after re-signing with Los Angeles on a small MLB guarantee, with claims and designations involving Cincinnati and Los Angeles before the Mets added him. Mlbtraderumors and MLB sources note he saw regular late-season work with the Dodgers and “went 3‑for‑7 with a double during the playoffs,” giving him postseason experience and a World Series ring. Statcast rates him as a roughly average catcher overall with above‑average framing skills, and MLB cites a Triple‑A mark of a .740 OPS as part of his minor‑league profile.

The waiver sequence that delivered Rortvedt to the Mets was shaped by broader roster timing across multiple clubs. Sports Yahoo outlined that Cincinnati’s signing of Eugenio Suárez on Feb. 3 led to Rortvedt’s first DFA, and that, even had the Reds waited, he would have been available by Feb. 10 ahead of Dodgers camp at Camelback Ranch. Sports Yahoo and TrueBlueLA also detail the Dodgers’ roster crunch around the signings of Evan Phillips and Kiké Hernández and include GM Brandon Gomes’ note that Hernández “is expected to be out until midseason after left elbow surgery.”

For the Mets the transaction is a low-cost bet on veteran defensive depth and clubhouse seasoning. Dedniel Núñez’s move to the 60‑day IL clears the space but deprives the bullpen of an arm currently on the 40‑man. With Rortvedt’s postseason 3‑for‑7 line and a career profile built on pitch framing and handling, New York has added a glove-first safety valve for the long season while keeping Alvarez and Torrens as the everyday receiving duo.