Several moves that could take place for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2024-25 offseason might very well depend on the performance of a handful of prospects on the fringe of the major leagues this year. Names like Landon Knack, Miguel Vargas, James Outman and Andy Pages may be in the spotlight right now, but one of the most overlooked positions on the team could be the catcher spot.
Seemingly, Will Smith and Austin Barnes have had a stronghold on the Los Angeles catcher spot forever now, and for good reason. Of course, Smith signed a monster contract before the season began that runs through his 2033 campaign. Smith can thank mostly his offensive prowess and his steadiness behind the plate, but the Dodgers had to have taken into consideration that Smith almost never lands on the injured list.
Smith was on the injured list early last year when he missed a week for concussion protocol in April. Prior to that, he missed 10 days with neck tightness in 2020. Barnes — who was close to missing time last fall after being struck by Nick Fortes’ bat — hasn’t landed on the IL in the last four years.
Having two catchers stay this healthy is a rarity in the MLB these days. On top of that, the ability of Smith and Barnes to avoid the IL is the primary reason why the team hasn’t had to dip into the minors much for catching help.
Sitting in the Top 10 Dodgers prospects rankings are 23-year-old Dalton Rushing at No. 2 and 22-year-old Diego Cartaya at No. 9. Higher on the catching totem pole but not ranked is 26-year-old Hunter Feduccia.
Depending on the fate of Barnes, either one could conceivably have a shot in the bigs next year. Barnes, who is currently in his age 34 season, is in the final year of a two-year deal, but he has a $3.5 million team option for 2025.
Both Feduccia and Cartaya are on the team’s 40-man roster. If Smith or Barnes were placed on the injury list right now, the lefty hitting Feduccia would get the call.
Feduccia is having a decent season at the plate so far, slashing .268/.374/.443 with seven doubles and 19 RBI for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Although he has never been a real power threat, he has hit double-digit home runs over the past three seasons. Additionally, he has already thrown out 15 baserunners so far this season.
Feduccia’s backup at OKC, 29-year-old journeyman Chris Okey, is hitting .233/.277/.284 in 65 plate appearances.
Feduccia had a banner season in 2023, hitting 11 homers and driving in 57 runs while tallying a career-high .279 batting average with an .838 OPS. He appeared in 90 games for OKC, posting a .994 fielding percentage and throwing out 21 base stealers in 741.1 innings behind the plate.
Feduccia has slashed .263/.363/.425 with 40 homers and 206 RBI in 365 minor league games with the Dodgers’ organization. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Louisiana State University.
If things stay the same and Barnes remains healthy and semi-productive throughout the 2024 season, he could be a shoo-in for the club to pick up his option for next season. However, if Feduccia has an opportunity in the majors and capitalizes on it, there could be a change ahead this offseason.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Feduccia is another one of those guys, along with Avans, who will probably never get the shot they deserve with the Dodgers. Friedman should do them both a favor and trade them to a team where they would at least have a shot at some playing time.
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Connor Wong is hitting .354 this year in 32 games and 122 PA.
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When that trade was made nobody would have predicted that Wong would be the one who would last in Boston the longest.
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Agree trade them to a club that can give them a shot if possible. Very impressed with the workmanlike performance of Knack. He throws strikes and has a good array of pitches. Depending on injuries in 24 might be a great trade chip. I wonder what their plans are for DePalma if Vargas figures it out.
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I really appreciate that Kike attempted to bunt! The execution wasn’t impressive but at least he tried. These guys should practice bunting as it will be necessary in tight games against teams that play fundamentally sound baseball. I like Karros’s comments. He mentioned Lux’s approach with a runner on base and how he is not being strategic. That is why I am down on Roberts. Roberts has been given incredibly talented teams and he is like a cruise ship captain instead of a manager that gets the most out of the talent. A manager should demand a player sacrifice when necessary and have strategic at bats during the game.
Spole say look at Roberts record! I say anyone could manage the talent he has consistently been given to a winning record. Look at his mistakes in the playoffs where his in game decisions have cost the team critical games.
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I’m not a Doc hater, but I’m far from his greatest fan.
I would much rather he’d be a coach on the team and have someone like Chase Utley as the manager. Utley would be great with strategy and forcing his players to learn the fundamentals of the game.
And if Bear is reading my comment, yes I know Utley is currently living in the UK and supposedly has no plans to return stateside any time soon. Doesn’t mean I can’t wish for it. When Utley was playing for the Phillies for all those years, I admired him from afar, but it was only when he played for us that I truly learned to appreciate how much he brings to his own game and the clubhouse. And that was at the end of his career. I really wish I’d been able to see him play every day during his prime.
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I would love to see Utley as the manager. I think he would be great. As for Kike’s bunt attempt T, it was pitiful. Trying to bunt on a high fastball is tantamount to trying to catch a bullet with your teeth. My biggest gripe about this team is their weak fundamentals. Situational hitting on this team is non-existent. I think they all forgot the lesson Pujols showed them when he was with the team. On several occasions, I saw Albert just reach out and hit the ball the other way. Two best at it on this team are Freeman and Smith. Everybody else seems to want to hit the ball in the seats. As for Feduccia, he is AAA fodder to this team. They have way too many talented catchers in their system for him to ever get a shot. Ward, Feduccia and Avans should be traded to other teams so they can at least get a shot. It worked for Raley, who is playing well in Tampa.
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Feduccia has decent numbers at AAA. All of our “prospects” at catcher have mostly mediocre numbers at lower levels with the possible exception of Rushing, although they’re all quite a bit younger.
I realize Smith and Barnes aren’t going anywhere. Barnes will probably be here next year as well, so I guess we’ll never know how Feduccia might have done here.
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Yep crap on fundamental level and to me what is a manager for but to set the culture. I saw that bunt attempt and was thrilled he tried and frustrated that he apparently hasn’t practiced enough to get it done. Remember when you were a kid? I played in HC & JC and we practiced until we could bunt, drag and chop a ball in our sleep! I get so frustrated watching this team not play strategically! They have so much talent and go up with runners on and swinging for the fences. Ugh! Sorry guys I blame Roberts! If the player won’t play team baseball sit them down send them out!!
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I don’t hate Doc. I believe he’s a great example of the Peter Principle! Great bench coach but personality not suited to drive guys to their peak performance. The team is HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY! This team needs a manager with grit that will drive guys to their top performance. Sacrifice! Run! Steal go go. Don’t wait for the HR get the run by scratching and clawing! This team can play HAPPY HAPPY and win 120 games with talent alone. But they are not going to win the Championship unless they get very lucky.
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Barnes has a team option for 3.5 million for next year. He will be 35 years old. I think they need some youth back there to back up Smith. I do not see that kind of option in the minors right now, although Feduccia’s left-handed bat would be nice. Right now, the bench has too many players at or below the Mendoza line, Taylor, Barnes, and Lux. I think they need more pop off of the bench.
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As usual I agree Bear. The team has all these rally killers in the mid and bottom of the line up. No one on a team this talented should be getting consistent at bats with a 200 or below avg. when u figure in these guys get many of their hits against struggling or AAA league level dregs in late innings it means they have no chance against premier starters and closers. Rally Killers. Those guys need to do anything they can to get on and move runners.
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I think they will be a little deeper when Max returns. He does lengthen the lineup. I would prefer a lot more contact on his part like he was displaying at the beginning of the season. The first six could be very good. They do need Lux to step up a lot, at least one power bat on the bench, and more consistency beyond the top four of Betts, Ohtani, Freeman and Smith. Today’s Reds starting lineup has only two hitters hitting above .250, De La Cruz and Stephenson.
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Last few loses they have had RISP with less than two outs and failed to move the runner. I don’t care if u r Freeman,lux or Pages the MANAGER is responsible for creating the culture that would make it mandatory to make the proper baseball fundamental move.
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