​The Los Angeles Dodgers are choosing to bolster their bullpen by moving on from a backup catcher. On Monday afternoon, the team announced that catcher Chuckie Robinson has been designated for assignment, while right-handed pitcher Carlos Duran is being added to the 40-man roster. The Dodgers confirmed that Duran was added to the 40-man roster and Robinson was designated for assignment. This comes on the same day reliever Evan Phillips is activated from the injured list and another right-hander, Paul Gervase, is optioned.
Why designate Chuckie Robinson for assignment? Robinson was called up to the majors to cover for the injured Will Smith, the starting catcher. Despite Dalton Rushing performing well in the backup role, his inconsistencies sometimes frustrated teammates, including superstar Shohei Ohtani. Robinson was brought in to back up Rushing, but he has struggled at the plate in the majors. In eight games, he is batting .087 with two hits in 23 at-bats, and he has not drawn a walk or logged any extra-base hits.
On Sunday, the Dodgers debuted Eliezer Alfonzo, who had learned only hours earlier that his sister and stepmother had been killed in the earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month. Alfonzo went 0-for-2 against the San Diego Padres, but the team likely wants to give him more chances in the majors, particularly in light of the devastating news he had just received.
What does Carlos Duran add to the Dodgers? Duran has pitched only a small stint at the major league level. In 2025, with the Oakland Athletics, he faced five batters in 0.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on three walks and a hit. That tiny sample yielded an ERA of 81.00 and a WHIP of 12.00. At 24 years old, he could have a clearer path to opportunity with the Dodgers. This season, with the Oklahoma City Comets, he is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA and has fanned 50 hitters in 35 innings while walking 25, showing a notable improvement over his brief MLB showing. Do you think Carlos Duran can find more big-league success with the Dodgers?