The Los Angeles Dodgers have once again established themselves as the team to beat in MLB. With the best record in the league and a roster overflowing with talent, the Dodgers are built to contend for another World Series. However, even championship-caliber teams have to make difficult decisions at the trade deadline, especially when they have talented young players blocked at the major league level. One player who could become a hot name on the trade market is catcher Dalton Rushing.

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A Valuable Trade Chip

Rushing entered professional baseball as one of the Dodgers’ top prospects, and he has shown why during his opportunities at the major league level this season. He’s received an increased workload recently due to injuries, but that role is expected to shrink considerably once star catcher Will Smith returns to the lineup.

At that point, Rushing could find himself back in a limited role, starting only a couple of games each week. That makes him an intriguing trade candidate. Rather than keeping a highly regarded young catcher on the bench, the Dodgers could capitalize on his value by acquiring pieces that better fit their current championship window.

Yankees and Rangers Make Sense

According to a report, both the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are viewed as logical landing spots for Rushing ahead of the trade deadline.

The Yankees have been searching for more offensive production behind the plate throughout the season, making Rushing an ideal fit. His left-handed bat and long-term upside would immediately strengthen one of New York’s weakest positions.

The Rangers also have reason to inquire. Adding a young catcher with years of team control could provide both an immediate upgrade and a cornerstone for the future.

A Deal That Helps Everyone

This is the type of trade that could benefit all parties involved. The Dodgers could use Rushing’s value to bolster areas of greater need, whether that’s adding starting pitching depth, bullpen help, or replenishing their farm system with additional high-end prospects.

Meanwhile, the acquiring club would land a former top prospect who has already shown he belongs in the majors and could become an everyday catcher for years to come.

As the trade deadline draws closer, Dalton Rushing is a name worth watching. He may not be available for long, but if the Dodgers decide to move him, don’t be surprised if the Yankees and Rangers are among the first teams to pick up the phone.

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With the Los Angeles Dodgers set to visit the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets later this month, an off-day between the two East Coast series looms on the schedule July 23.

Amid reports that the defending World Series champions will use that day to visit the White House — a ceremony typically afforded the reigning champions in the major U.S. sports leagues — the Dodgers issued a statement July 9 defending their participation in the tradition.

“As was the case one year ago, the Dodgers’ upcoming visits to the White House and Capitol Hill follow the longtime tradition of visits by other World Series champions,” the statement read. “We appreciate these tributes in recognition of our back-to-back championships.”

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The players who comprise professional sports teams, like the cities they represent, are political kaleidoscopes. The Dodgers employ shortstop Mookie Betts, who knelt during the U.S. national anthem amid the George Floyd protests in 2020. They also employ pitcher Blake Treinen, who wrote the name of Charlie Kirk on his hat when the right-wing influencer was killed last year.

Treading the line between opposing viewpoints might have been the Dodgers’ goal with their statement. But it will be impossible to reconcile visiting the White House and placate the same fans who protested the use of Dodger Stadium as a staging area for Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity last year.

In the months that followed, the team fulfilled its pledge of donating $1 million “toward direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region.” Showing support for the same administration whose policies adversely impacted those families, by participating in a ceremony other champion teams have rejected, sends a message even the most anodyne statement strains to reconcile.

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The Dodgers visited the White House in April 2025, seven months after they won the 2024 World Series. Soon, President Donald Trump will get another Dodgers jersey to add to his collection, and the team’s players, coaches, and other personnel will get another round of handshakes.

When that happens, expect more statements from the Dodgers rejecting the idea that their actions embed a political message of any kind.

The Los Angeles Dodgers got the better of the Colorado Rockies, beating them 4-3, to take the National League West home series 2-1.

The Dodgers lost on Tuesday after leading 3-1 after the sixth inning, blowing Shohei Ohtani’s 300th home run and a gem from Justin Wrobleski.

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The defense and bullpen let LA down on Tuesday late in the game, but just like this Dodgers team has done all year long, they dusted themselves off and pulled out a win by any means necessary.

Roki Sasaki took the mound and had a shaky start in the first three innings of work, but he settled in nicely after that, putting up three scoreless innings after giving up three runs.

On the night, Sasaki gave up six hard hits, four total hits, got five strikeouts, and only had two walks.

His fastball velocity was much steadier, and in terms of approach, he had a more measured pitch mix, with a healthy amount of splitter, slider, and fastball that kept hitters guessing.

He hung two pitches for home runs, notable mistakes that cost the team two runs, but for the most part, Sasaki held himself steady and prevented an implosion as he had before.

A solid start for Sasaki could not have come at a better time; now, he gets the chance to enter the All-Star break on a high note.

Mookie Betts delivers in the clutch

Betts, who has been surging at the plate, was coming into the game with confidence. He only had one hit and one RBI came off the hit, but that run ended up being the difference, allowing Tanner Scott to come in for the save.

The run was able to come from Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman getting on base, eventually scoring the utility player.

Both Edman and Freeman had two-hit games, the only players on the Dodgers to have a multi-hit performance. The only other form of offense came from Kyle Tucker, who had his own clutch two-RBI hit.

The Dodgers get to enjoy their series win for a full day on Thursday and rest up for their final series before the All-Star break.

On the same day he made his major league debut, Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was dealt devastating news.

Reports out of Venezuela indicated his sister, Eliana, and stepmother, Patricia, were discovered among the deceased in a hotel that collapsed as a result of two magnitude-7 earthquakes in their homeland. The death toll has reportedly climbed past 3,000.

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“The Dodgers wish to express their deepest condolences to catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, Jr. for the passing of his sister Eliana and stepmother Patricia in the devastating earthquake in Venezuela,” the team said in a statement posted to its Twitter/X account on July 5. “Our hearts go out to his family in this tragic loss.”

Search and rescue efforts had yet to reveal their fate when Alfonzo was promoted to Los Angeles’ MLB roster for the first time on July 4. Alfonzo’s father, the former major league catcher of the same name, has been on the ground since the earthquakes rocked the country.

The younger Alfonzo spoke to reporters about the situation after the game at Dodger Stadium. He said he made the decision to play to honor his sister and stepmother.

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“Three weeks ago, (Eliana) had a beautiful dream, but she wasn’t going to tell me until the dream came true,” Alfonzo told reporters, including Katie Woo of The Athletic. “I’m pretty sure the dream was something about this.

“I wish she was alive to watch me play in the big leagues.”

The Dodgers signed Alfonzo to a minor league contract after he reached Triple-A for the first time with the Detroit Tigers in 2025.

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In his first spring training with the Dodgers, Alfonzo went 9-for-36 (.250) with three doubles in 15 Cactus League games. He was slashing .313/.392/.422 in 49 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City when his contract was selected prior to the Dodgers’ July 4 game against the San Diego Padres.

The Dodgers were left short one catcher when three-time All-Star Will Smith was felled by a neck injury in June.