Colorado Rockies trade targets: Bullpen targets from AL West, NL East

Alex Claudio is a reliever for the Texas Rangers. Back in December, James LaGrow mentioned Claudio in a hypothetical trade that we came up with here at Rox Pile.

Last year, in his second full season in the major leagues, Claudio pitched very well. He pitched in 70 games and had an ERA of 2.50 with 11 saves. He had a FIP of 3.21, a WHIP of 1.040, and he only walked 1.6 batters per nine innings.

This season, in 29 games, he has an ERA of 3.94. His main problem is that he is allowing 12.7 hits per nine innings but his 3.11 FIP and low walk rate (0.9 per nine innings). Also, since April 23, Claudio has an ERA of 1.83 and a 0.90 ERA in his past nine outings, which spans back to May 18.

Claudio also has a lot of control left as he is only eligible to become a free agent after the 2021 season so the Rockies, if they were to trade for him, Claudio would be a long term option for the Rockies in the bullpen.

Like Claudio, Jake Diekman is another lefty that is in the Rangers bullpen. However with being a free agent at the end of the season and the Rangers being in dead last in the AL West, he has a higher chance to be traded.

He was injured last year but thus far in 2018, he has pitched well. He has an ERA of 3.38 and a FIP of 3.44 in 28 games. He is striking out 11.4 batters per nine innings but his main problem is, and has been, walks. He is walking more than 6 per nine innings this year and in his career, he is walking nearly five batters than nine innings.