BREAKING: Dodgers Make MASSIVE Move... | LA Dodgers News

We have breaking news as the Dodgers have made a massive move in a shocking turn of events. I get into that in this edition of Dodgers Digest. Hey, this is Mike Nelson. Make sure to subscribe to the channel. I want to thank the 42% of you, the ones who are watching these videos who've already hit the sub button. The 57% of you, I'm not sure why you haven't subscribed to the best Dodger channel on YouTube. Myself, Brad J, we're bringing you everyday Dodger content. We're going to be taking your calls very soon on our live streams, so make sure to stay tuned for that, and yeah, make sure to join the fastest growing Dodger YouTube channel in the world. Let's get right into it. Of course, the Dodgers have made a big move. This is breaking news. The Dodgers have designated Austin Barnes for assignment. He is the longest tenured position player with the Dodgers. As we know, the longest tenured Dodger is Clayton Kershaw. And now his personal catcher is gone. The same week that Clayton Kershaw is due to return to the Dodgers. Let's not forget, Clayton Kershaw is going to make his first start for the Dodgers this weekend against the LA Angels at Dodger Stadium. And Austin Barnes is not going to be there. That is honestly kind of crazy. We were talking about this with Brad on Monday. Brad asked me, do you think Austin Barnes is going anywhere? I thought there's no way Clayton Kershaw's coming back, well I was wrong and Austin Barnes has been designated for assignment Dalton Rushing is now going to be with the team of course uh this is a huge you know a turn of events I mean I'm in complete shock Austin Barnes been designated for assignment the team has called up 24 year old prospect Dalton Dalton Rushing to take his place of course uh Rushing has been doing a lot of good things um you know in in minor league baseball he was the uh 2024 Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year in 2024 and this year he already has five homers and already hitting over .300 just having solid numbers this year I think of course Rushing deserves an opportunity with the big club but Barnes boy this guy has been with the Dodgers for 10 years Barnes made his major league debut with the Dodgers back in 2015 and he was a part of the World Series championship teams of course the two that they've won in these 10 years in 2020 and in 24 he was also part of the two teams that lost in 17 and in 18 so this guy has been through it all he's you know one of the old you know the oldest Dodger the longest tenure Dodger that's on the team right now uh that you know that was on the team in 2020 he appeared in 10 of the team's 18 postseason games had a solid year in that COVID World Series championship year going 8 for 25 with three RBI and four runs scoring four runs got a home run that game three of the World Series you know it's definitely tough news because i think Austin Barnes gave it gave his whole career to the Dodgers right i mean this guy has only played for the Dodgers in his major league baseball career he is the only team he has suited up for um and you know him being designated for assignment signifies an end to his Dodger career um but it's definitely a big turn of events the Dodgers you know they're all in you know they're gonna put pressure now Michael Conforto with this move right because Rushing is an outfielder as well Conforto is only hitting 172 and you know as we know Rushing is primarily a catcher gonna be the backup for Will Smith now but he is he has played left field as well in the minor leagues so this gives Dave Roberts and the Dodgers another option in left field right with Michael Conforto really going through so many struggles um and you know getting paid a lot of money in this one year could be potentially a player the Dodgers could look to trade right because I don't think Conforto would be released I think somebody would take him on right I think they could definitely trade Conforto for a bullpen arm or you know starting push comes to shove with all the injuries we're having and the Dodgers could potentially move Conforto for somebody like that and rushing could move in and potentially become the everyday left fielder if that's the way it has to go right because rushing has a hot bat right now coming up in the minor leagues i mean if he comes in and i assume he's going to get the start i'll get a start this weekend right i mean you think is he going to now become kershaw's catcher right with barnes now gone is rushing going to become clayton kershaw's personal catcher i think that's what everybody out there has to start to analyze what do you think what do you think about this i think this is a really big move because i did not expect it to happen this soon right I didn't expect the Dodgers to kind of jump the gun on Austin Barnes and DFA him in May. I know he's really struggled to start off the year, but you have the idea of him coming, you know, of Kershaw coming back, which it's this week. He's going to be coming back, right? And Barnes has been the catcher for Kershaw for years, right? Every time Kershaw starts playoffs regular season, we had Austin Barnes out there. So that's going to change. And that's a big move. And I think that's the big key here, exactly who is going to take Barnes, who's going to take a spot now when Kershaw starts every six days, every five, six days, depending, you know, if we're doing five-man, six-man rotation. Who's going to be that guy, right? And I think that's going to be a big question mark, and also the idea of rushing, you know, putting pressure on the outfielders, right? Taylor also under pressure because, you know, these guys are obviously as we know if the Dodgers want to keep him, they want to, they want to make him an everyday player, somebody's got to go and i think you know it's got to be conforto, Barnes, you know Altman, you know Altman, we know is up for for the uh tail injury he's going to go right back down when Avandus comes back and that's the big question about how what what can we expect from Dalton Rushing now that you know Dalton is up here with the Dodgers How much can he really contribute, right? I mean, he's obviously a proven hitter at the minor league level. How is he going to do with the Dodgers, right? I think that's going to be something to keep an eye on in the next few days, weeks with him, you know, coming in. And how much playing time is he going to get? How much is he going to actually catch, right? Because Barnes wasn't playing very much, right? I mean, he was playing sparingly, right? Catching Sasaki's games. And that's about it, really. Not getting anywhere close to any, you know, pinch hitting opportunity. He did get, I believe, one or two this season, but not too much. And really, Will Smith is obviously the starting catcher on the Dodgers. There's no if and buts around that. I mean, Will Smith is the starting catcher on the Dodgers. He's locked up for the next nine years. He's not going anywhere, right? So Dalton Rushing, his opportunity is going to be obvious. He's going to get a chance to catch here and there, kind of like Barnes was getting. but I think the real opportunity Rushing is going to get that probably you know that Barnes didn't get was to play in the outfield right Rushing gets the opportunity to put pressure on the other outfielders who are struggling and get a shot to uh you know get some more playing time there and and you know get more at bats I mean I think this is a big story I think you know I wish nothing but the best for Austin Barnes hopefully his major league baseball career can continue and if not like we talked about hopefully the Dodgers make him a coach and he could be a part of this organization for years to come um you know coaching and being around the team because i think obviously this guy is a really brilliant baseball mind there's no other reason why Kershaw would want him as his uh personal catcher um i think he was a great catcher you know offensively he did struggle at times but i think you know he had a super important role for that 2020 world series winning team um and i think obviously his uh efforts and contributions will never be forgotten you know two-time world series champion with the dodgers as always make sure to subscribe and let's go dodgers