In need of help with the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, the Los Angeles Dodgers got ahead of other teams and made a move a few days before trade talks really heat up. The team reportedly acquired injured reliever Seth Halvorsen from the Colorado Rockies on Monday in exchange for two minor-league players, per multiple reports.
Halvorsen, 26, has a 4.74 ERA over 19 innings with the Rockies this season.
Seth Halvorsen goes to Dodgers from Rockies for prospects Nick Frasso and Landyn Vidourek
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 20, 2026
On the surface, the Halvorsen acquisition is strange for a few reasons. First off, it’s an inter-division deal, with two teams in the National League West coming together to exchange players. Neither the Rockies of Dodgers likely feel too strongly about the pieces surrendered in the deal, as inter-division trades could come back to haunt one team if a player emerges as a future superstar.
Whether Halvorsen can leap into that role depends on what the Dodgers plan to do with the reliever. In his brief MLB appearances, Halvorsen hasn’t been impressive. He holds a career 4.31 ERA, with a 21.0 percent strikeout rate and 12.1 walk rate. Since Halvorsen made his MLB debut in 2024, relievers have averaged a higher strikeout rate and lower walk rate than Halvorsen.
Things have gotten particularly rough for Halvorsen this season, as he’s issued nearly as many walks as strikeouts in his 19 innings in the majors.
On top of that, Halvorsen is currently injured. The reliever is in the middle of a rehab assignment due to shoulder inflammation. He’ll continue that assignment with the Dodgers. Once the team deems him ready, it will need to decide whether to promote Halvorsen to the majors or keep him in the minors.
While the Dodgers are in the midst of yet another excellent year, the team’s one weakness — if you can even call it that — is its bullpen. Los Angeles’ offense ranks first in the majors in wRC+ — an advanced stat that measures a offensive performance. The team also ranks first in MLB with a 3.36 ERA from its starting pitchers. It’s bullpen ranks seventh with a 3.71 ERA.
While that’s hardly a major reason for concern, the Dodgers are at least trying to remedy some issues by acquiring a reliever ahead of the deadline. On the surface, Halvorsen doesn’t seem that exciting, but the Dodgers are known for having a strong player-development system, and could have changes in mind to help Halvorsen take a step forward.
Prior to 2026, Halvorsen posted strong Stuff+ numbers, suggesting his pitches are nasty enough to be successful in the majors. But his control and command have always lagged behind, something borne out in the advanced stats and the eye test.
The two prospects the team shipped out for Halvorsen — Nick Frasso and Landyn Vidourek — could wind up playing a role for the Rockies moving forward. While Frasso was once a top-100 prospect, he’s now 27 and has never appeared in the majors. But that could change soon, as the Rockies could always use pitching.
Vidourek is a 22-year-old outfielder who the Dodgers selected in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft. He posted strong numbers last season, but has seen his batting average dip below .200 in the minors in 2026. If either prospect is going to make the Dodgers regret the deal, it’s likely Vidourek, who is still young and has shown some ability in the minors already.
Given the Dodgers’ seemingly endless supply of talented players, the Halvorsen acquisition may not even rate as a notable transaction by the team by season’s end. With Edwin Diaz working his way back from injury, the team’s bullpen is set to get a boost before long. Additionally, the Halvorsen deal doesn’t prevent the team from making a more substantial acquisition in its bullpen before the trade deadline passes.
If Halvorsen does play a significant role with the team down the stretch, it will likely be due to the Dodgers unlocking something with the reliever. If he doesn’t, it’s unlikely to affect the Dodgers in any way. The team will almost certainly make higher-profile moves at the deadline and can afford to miss on a player or two given the immense talent already present within the organization.
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