The Los Angeles Dodgers certainly look like a team capable of winning their third consecutive World Series, and have looked that good without one of their best players.
The fact that Will Smith is not even a top-five player on the team is a testament to how stacked the Dodgers' roster is. However, it does not change the fact that he is an important player and one of the best catchers in the game. He has been dealing with a neck injury and was recently shut down from baseball activities in the middle of his rehab. Manager Dave Roberts noted that the earliest he could return is mid-August.
Dalton Rushing has handled the catching duties with Smith out, and it would seem wise for the Dodgers to add some depth. With Smith's status unclear and the trade deadline looming, the Dodgers will need to make a decision quickly on whether to add some catching help. If they hold out until mid-August to see if Smith is ready, and he is not, then they won't be able to trade for a big league catcher.
"Despite Smith’s prolonged absence, the Dodgers do not plan to pursue major-league catching depth and will continue to rely on Dalton Rushing for the bulk of the starts," wrote The Athletic's Katie Woo on Monday.
Rushing was the Dodgers' top prospect at one point in time, but now he is playing well at the big league level. When Smith is back, he will go back to the backup role, but until then, the team seems to have full faith in his ability to handle being the primary catcher.
The real problem for the Dodgers will be if Smith cannot return and if Rushing gets hurt after the deadline. Then the team would be left rather thin at catcher going into the postseason.