The Colorado Rockies are open to discussing trades involving their relievers Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen, according to report by Katie Woo and Will Sammon of The Athletic. Both pitchers, who are controllable and possess significant arm strength, have attracted attention around the league amid Colorado’s willingness to explore options for these promising right-handed pitchers.
Profiles of Vodnik and Halvorsen Highlight Their Bullpen Roles and Strengths
Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen have emerged as important high-leverage bullpen arms for the Rockies recently. At 25 years old, both right-handers throw with exceptional velocity: Vodnik, acquired from the Atlanta Braves last season in the Pierce Johnson trade, averages 98.5 MPH on his fastball, while Halvorsen, a seventh-round draft pick two years ago, features a heater that exceeds 100 MPH—ranking just behind power pitchers Mason Miller and Jhoan Durán in pitch speed.
Performance and Underlying Metrics of the Two Pitchers
Among the two, Vodnik has shown better overall results. Last year, he pitched 73 2/3 innings with a 4.28 ERA, and this season, despite missing five weeks due to shoulder inflammation, he maintains a 3.00 ERA over 30 innings. Vodnik’s ability to induce ground balls is significant, with a 56.3% ground ball rate, although he has allowed substantial hard contact. His walk rate is a concern at 13.4%, and his strikeout rate sits near league average at 23.6% of batters faced.
Halvorsen serves as Colorado’s closer during this rebuilding phase, generating a 53.2% ground ball rate. However, his strikeout (21.3%) and walk (11%) percentages are modest. Halvorsen has struggled somewhat with home runs allowed, resulting in a 5.02 ERA across 37 2/3 innings pitched.
Trade Considerations Reflect Rockies’ Shift in Roster Strategy
Historically, Colorado has been reluctant to trade players who still have multiple years of team control remaining, but recent reports indicate a growing openness to deals, especially involving players like third baseman Ryan McMahon. This attitude may also extend to controllable bullpen talents such as Jake Bird, Vodnik, and Halvorsen. The willingness to trade either reliever would mirror last summer’s transaction of Nick Mears to Milwaukee—a pitcher with power but mixed results.
Notably, Mears, who is older than Vodnik and Halvorsen, was a waiver claim, potentially making him easier to trade than players drafted or acquired in previous deals. Vodnik is controlled by the Rockies for four more seasons after this year, while Halvorsen remains under club control for over five years, presenting long-term value but also trade leverage for the team.
Implications for the Rockies and Next Steps in Trade Discussions
The Rockies’ openness to trading key bullpen arms like Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen signals a strategic balancing act between rebuilding and maximizing the value of controllable players. These pitchers’ unique velocity and ground ball skills continue to make them attractive in the trade market, even as their performance consistency invites scrutiny. How Colorado moves forward with these trade talks could shape the bullpen’s composition and influence the team’s rebuilding timeline moving ahead.