3 trade targets for the Colorado Rockies from the Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels reliever Junior Guerra could help the Colorado Rockies bullpen

Junior Guerra did not have a good first season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 but if his recent past suggests anything, Guerra could help the Colorado Rockies bullpen.

In 2021, Guerra, who turns 37 next month, appeared in 41 games (one start) and had an ERA of 6.06 (ERA+ of 74). However, his FIP suggests that he was the victim of some bad luck as it was more than a full run lower than his ERA at 4.75. He had both an elevated hit rate (more than a hit per inning) and an elevated walk rate (6.3 BB/9), which is why his WHIP was so high (1.73) and his high ERA.

However, since he became a full-time reliever in 2019, he has shown that he can be better. In 2019 and 2020, he combined to appear in 97 games and he had a 3.44 ERA with an ERA+ of 130 and a WHIP of 1.174.

Among relievers with at least 100 innings pitched from 2019 through 2021, he has a groundball rate of 45.9 percent, which is slightly above league average. That signifies that he could be a decent pitcher at Coors Field. In 2021, the Rockies reliever (minimum 40 innings pitched) with the highest groundball rate was Lucas Gilbreath, who was at 45.9 percent. In 2021, Guerra was at 47.2.

So if Guerra had some more control and got his hit rate down, he could be a good reliever for the Rockies.