Dodgers Bullpen Boost
Dodgers Trade for Seth Halvorsen to Add Elite Velocity to Bullpen Amidst Injuries
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Key Points
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Halvorsen has shown elite velocity, including a 103.3 mph fastball last July (the fastest by a Rockies pitcher since 2015) and about 100 mph on average in 2025, with velocity in the 98th percentile this season and a 4.31 ERA with 8.4 K/9 over 75 appearances dating back to 2024.
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Halvorsen’s injury timeline includes a right shoulder inflammation that landed him on the 15-day IL in early July, followed by a cortisone shot, a live-bullpen session, and a rehab assignment at Triple-A Albuquerque where he emitted a scoreless inning as velocity returned.
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Vidourek is the Dodgers’ No. 25 prospect, a 22-year-old outfielder who spent the season in Single-A Ontario, batting .170 with six homers and a .643 OPS while posting a high strikeout rate (~39%).
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Frasso, 27, has battled long-term injuries and has not appeared in the majors; a former Blue Jays fourth-round pick in 2020, he was part of the Dodgers’ 2022 trade for Mitch White and Alex De Jesus and has a 3.90 ERA across five minor-league seasons (4.98 ERA, 1.56 WHIP in Triple-A).
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Halvorsen is not arbitration-eligible until 2028, a detail that shapes how the Dodgers weigh the deal financially and long-term.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made their first move ahead of the August 3 trade deadline, acquiring right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen from the Colorado Rockies, according to Reuters. The Dodgers sent outfielder Landyn Vidourek and right-hander Nick Frasso to Colorado in return.
Halvorsen, 26, is one of MLB's hardest throwers, with a fastball that averages near 100 mph and peaked at 103.3 mph last July — the fastest by a Rockies pitcher since 2015. The catch: he is currently on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, Yahoo Sports reported.
A Battered Bullpen Drives the Dodgers' Urgency
Los Angeles's bullpen has been hammered by injuries this season. Closer Edwin Diaz had elbow surgery. Blake Treinen is out with elbow inflammation. Brusdar Graterol is also sidelined. Gavin Stone and Shohei Ohtani are hurt too. The team needed arms badly, and Halvorsen's elite velocity made him a high-upside target despite the health risk.
Halvorsen has posted a 4.31 ERA with 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings across 75 appearances since 2024, per Yahoo Sports. His fastball velocity sits in the 98th percentile in MLB this season. The Dodgers are betting that when healthy, he can handle late-inning work.
Halvorsen's Shoulder Injury and Road Back to the Mound
Halvorsen landed on the injured list in early July with right shoulder inflammation. He received a cortisone shot, then threw a live bullpen session. Most recently, he logged a scoreless inning in a rehab outing at Triple-A Albuquerque, with his velocity reportedly back near its peak, Reuters noted.
The Dodgers will likely keep him at Triple-A to build up before activating him. He is not arbitration-eligible until 2028, which means Los Angeles controls him cheaply for years. That long-term value made the risk easier to absorb.
What the Dodgers Gave Up to Get the Deal Done
Vidourek, 22, was the Dodgers' No. 25 prospect. He played Single-A ball in Ontario this season, batting .170 with six home runs and a .643 OPS. He struck out in roughly 39% of his at-bats. The raw power was real, but the contact problems were a major red flag.
Frasso, 27, was a fourth-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2020. He came to Los Angeles in the 2022 trade for Mitch White and Alex De Jesus. He has never appeared in the majors and carries a 4.98 ERA and 1.56 WHIP at Triple-A, per Yahoo Sports. Both players were seen as acceptable costs for a controllable power arm.
Colorado Cashes In Prospects to Reshape Its Roster
For the Rockies, the deal is about clearing space and adding depth. Colorado is rebuilding, and trading Halvorsen — an injured reliever they couldn't use right now — for two minor leaguers fits that plan. It frees up a roster spot while bringing in young players who could contribute down the road.
The move signals Colorado's approach heading into the deadline: shed controllable but currently unavailable players, collect prospects, and reshape the 40-man roster, according to Reuters. It is a low-drama deal that makes sense for both sides given where each team stands right now.
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