7 trade targets from the Cleveland Guardians for the Colorado Rockies

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Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Aaron Civale

CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 23: Starting pitcher Aaron Civale #43 of the Cleveland Indians reacts after the first inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on September 23, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Cleveland Guardians starter Aaron Civale is another pick from the 2016 Draft that could help the Colorado Rockies rotation.

Aaron Civale is the second of the three pitchers that were drafted in 2016 by the Cleveland Guardians that could help the Colorado Rockies rotation.

Civale, 26, was drafted in the third round by Cleveland in 2016 and he made his debut in 2019. He had a great 2019 season as, in 10 starts, he had a 2.34 ERA with a 3.40 FIP, a good WHIP (1.04), and a good walk rate (2.5 BB/9).

He suffered from a sophomore slump in 2020 (4.74 ERA, 94 ERA+, home run rate doubled, hit rate nearly doubled) and he was injured in 2021 (21 starts). However, he still pitched fairly well in 2021 as in those 21 starts, he had an ERA of 3.84, an ERA+ of 114, a 1.118 WHIP, and a good walk rate (2.2 BB/9).

Civale has had a groundball rate of 43.8 percent since 2019, which is roughly league average.

Civale is still cheap as he isn’t arbitration-eligible under the current CBA but, again, if the CBA makes the path to arbitration and free agency a year sooner, then Cleveland could be shopping him soon as well.

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