CLEVELAND — Rumors leading into Thursday’s MLB trade deadline speculated that the Colorado Rockies might move some members of their bullpen.

Those rumors became reality on Wednesday.

In the first of what could be multiple trades involving the bullpen, the Rockies sent veteran reliever Tyler Kinley to the Atlanta Braves. In exchange, Colorado received 26-year-old right-hander Austin Smith, who is pitching at the Double-A level in the Atlanta organization.

Now with the Rockies, Smith will report to Double-A Hartford to begin his journey to Coors Field.

Smith, an 18th-round pick of the Braves in the 2021 MLB draft, has pitched 107 games in the Braves’ organization, with all but one coming in relief. This season in Double-A, he has a 5.40 ERA through 20.0 innings, striking out 21 and walking 11.

“He’s a young kid with a fastball-slider mix who we like,” Rockies senior vice president and general manager Bill Schmidt told The Denver Gazette. “We’re trying to get better. I think with Austin, our scouts like what he brings and what he’s about.”

Kinley, scheduled to be a free agent at the end of this season if his club option is turned down, was selected by Colorado off waivers from the Miami Marlins before the 2020 season. In his six seasons with the Rockies, he posted a 5.05 ERA in 246.0 innings over 253 games and had 20 saves, including a team-leading 12 saves in 2024.

The 34-year-old right-hander was scoreless in his last six outings with the Rockies, covering 6.1 innings. It was the second time this year he’s held opponents scoreless through at least six outings, throwing 8.0 clean innings over seven games from April 8-20.

“I appreciate everything that Tyler did for the organization,” Schmidt said. “He was professional, not just between the lines but how he helped the young kids coming up. He was a great mentor to the young kids as they came into that bullpen.”

Seth Halvorsen is one of those young Rockies relievers. The 25-year-old right-hander has taken over the closer’s role this year and earned 11 saves, including being six-of-six in save opportunities since June 22.

On Wednesday, after Kinley was dealt, Halvorsen reflected on the veteran’s impact on him.

“He was the guy with the most experience in the bullpen, and it showed,” Halvorsen told The Denver Gazette. “He was super willing to help whenever I needed something. After an outing, he would give very good and positive feedback. With the experience he had, that was very helpful to me.”

Kinley may not be the final Rockies reliever traded before the trade deadline hits at 4 p.m. Thursday. Reports include four different Colorado relievers — Halvorsen, Jake Bird, Jimmy Herget and Victor Vodnik — as potential trade options for teams trying to get deep into the postseason.

All those relievers come with at least two years of team control, meaning each of them could command a higher price. While that would mean a better return for the Rockies, it also could keep potential trade partners from being willing to meet Colorado’s individual price tags.

Each of those four relievers could be a key part of Colorado’s bullpen in 2026 if they aren’t traded by Thursday’s deadline. However, with a 2.86 ERA in 56.2 innings (tied for the second-most among all MLB relievers) and a streak of 11 consecutive outings without giving up a run on the road before surrendering a solo home run on Tuesday, Herget could be the next Rockies reliever on the move.

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Return on investment

So far, here are the players added to the Colorado farm system via the trades for third baseman Ryan McMahon and relief pitcher Tyler Kinley.

Double-A

RHP Austin Smith

The 26-year-old Smith has logged an 0-4 record with a 4.31 ERA with four saves in 29 relief outings (31.1 innings) between High-A Rome and Double-A Columbus this season. He recorded a 2.38 ERA with four walks and 13 strikeouts in 11 High-A games before being promoted to Columbus on May 13.

High-A

RHP Josh Grosz and LHP Griffin Herring

The 22-year-old Herring has posted a 7-3 record with a 1.71 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 16 starts (89.1 innings) between Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley this season, the second-lowest ERA in the minors among qualified full season pitchers.

Grosz, also 22, has gone 4-8 with a 4.14 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 16 appearances (15 starts) over 87.0 innings with High-A Hudson Valley. He was tied for third in the South Atlantic League in strikeouts and fifth in opponent batting average, while finishing in the top 10 in three others pitching categories.

—Kevin Henry, Special to The Denver Gazette