Overview
- The Dodgers shut Will Smith down from all baseball activity on Friday after his rehab stalled, and he has not played since going on the injured list with neck inflammation on June 11.
- Team trainers moved to full rest because light activity produced flare-ups when Smith swung and threw; head trainer Thomas Albert reported Smith feels no pain but has shown limited functional progress.
- Manager Dave Roberts said a return this season remains the hope but that a mid- to late-August ramp-up is the earliest plausible timeline and a month of missed time would be a best-case outcome.
- Dalton Rushing has been the primary catcher and supplied strong offense, but his poor defensive metrics and recent game management miscues leave Los Angeles exposed if Smith is unavailable.
- With the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching, analysts and reporters are urging the Dodgers to pursue a low-cost, defense-first catcher like Ben Rortvedt as short-term insurance rather than a long-term, high-price starter.