Rangers, Mariners Interested in Rockies’ Hard-Throwing Relievers

The Colorado Rockies are more open to trades this year than they’ve been in the past, especially when it comes to their bullpen. Several young, controllable relievers could be on the move before the deadline, and two teams—the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners—have taken particular interest, according to reports from Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News and Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.

Three Relievers Drawing Attention

The Rockies are reportedly willing to trade right-handers Jake Bird, Victor Vodnik, and Tyler Kinley. Kinley, 34, is the most straightforward trade candidate. He’s in the final guaranteed year of his contract and is making $3 million this season, with a $5 million team option for 2026. His ERA isn’t great (5.66), but he throws hard and relies on his slider, which has helped him generate swings and misses at a high rate (14%). His strikeout numbers are decent, and underlying stats like FIP (4.14) and SIERA (4.15) suggest he’s been more effective than his ERA shows.

Bird, 29, looked sharp through June with a 2.63 ERA, but a rough July pushed it up to 4.73. He has solid control, a strong ground-ball rate (48%), and has done well to keep the ball in the park throughout his career. He often pitches more than one inning and has 53.1 frames under his belt this season.

Vodnik, 25, may be the most valuable of the three. He’s posted a 3.19 ERA across 31 innings, with an impressive 56.6% ground-ball rate. He throws a fastball that averages nearly 99 mph and mixes in a powerful changeup. Although he doesn’t strike out as many hitters as his velocity might suggest, his results have still been strong. Like Bird, Vodnik isn’t even arbitration-eligible yet, which makes him especially appealing to budget-conscious teams like the Rangers.

Seattle Also Scouting Rockies’ Pen

According to Kramer, the Mariners have been closely watching Bird, along with Rockies relievers Juan Mejia and Seth Halvorsen. Mejia just made his MLB debut this year. In 36 innings, he has a 4.50 ERA, though advanced stats like FIP (3.78) and SIERA (3.60) show he’s done better than that. He throws a fastball around 96 mph and relies on a slider as his second pitch. Seattle could retain control of Mejia for six more seasons, and he still has minor league options, giving the team long-term flexibility.

Halvorsen, 25, might be the most intriguing name of all. His ERA sits at 4.99, but he throws 100 mph with good movement and generates plenty of swings and misses. His walk rate is high (11.6%), but he’s tough to hit and keeps the ball on the ground (54.4% ground-ball rate). He’s still developing, but the upside is there, and he’s under team control for five more seasons with all three minor league options intact.

Rockies Hold Strong Trade Chips

It’s not clear if Colorado will actually deal any of these arms, but the market for controllable relievers is thin. Aside from the Rangers and Mariners, teams like the Phillies, Tigers, Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, and Cubs are all believed to be seeking bullpen help.

While plenty of relievers are available—like Ryan Helsley or Raisel Iglesias—most will become free agents after this season. Teams that do have long-term bullpen options, like the Twins (Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax), Guardians (Cade Smith), and Pirates (David Bednar), are asking for big returns.

Colorado might follow that same path. If the Rockies decide to move Vodnik, Halvorsen, or even Bird, they could demand a high price. But with so many buyers in the mix and so few controllable arms available, the timing might be perfect for the Rockies to strengthen their weak farm system.