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

The Los Angeles Angels are a bad team. They had a record of 77-85 in 2021 but take away Shohei Ohtani, Anthony Rendon, and Mike Trout and, believe it or not, the Angels in 2021 were unequivocally worse than the Colorado Rockies.

Entering the lockout, the Angels did make some moves to better themselves like sign reliever Aaron Loup and sign starters Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen. That still doesn’t negate the fact that they have an awful team.

Rockies fans, if you think the Rockies don’t have depth, check out the Angels depth chart. The Angels are worse.

To contend in 2022, though, the Angels do have an easier path. First of all, they have shown that they are willing to spend money. They haven’t spent it well in recent years but they have spent money. Secondly, they are in a weaker division than the Colorado Rockies. The Houston Astros are the kings of the American League West but the rest of the division is wide open.

The Seattle Mariners were a contending team in 2021 but if their win-loss differential is any indication, they will regress in 2021.

The Texas Rangers spent half of a billion dollars on Corey Seager and Marcus Semien but outside of Jon Gray, they have a pitching staff that most Triple-A teams wouldn’t be happy with.

The Oakland A’s let Bob Melvin go to San Diego for literally nothing. They always exceed expectations but when expectations are nothing for 2022, that’s not a high bar.

So the Angels, if they make a few moves, could get a Wild Card spot, especially if playoff spots are added for 2022.

However, there are three players on the Los Angeles Angels’ 40-man roster that, realistically, could be part of a trade to the Colorado Rockies.

Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher could help the Colorado Rockies

Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher could help the Colorado Rockies, especially if he reverts to his 2020 ways at the plate.

In 2021, Fletcher, 27, played in 157 games for the Angels and he hit .262/.297/.324 with an OPS+ 71. For the Rockies, that OPS+ is comparable to Garrett Hampson, whose OPS+ in 2021 was also 71. But in 2020, Fletcher was much better, as he even got some MVP votes.

In 49 games, Fletcher hit .319/.376/.425 with an OPS+ of 120 and in 2019, Fletcher hit .290/.350/.384 with an OPS+ of 95. That OPS+ is not great but if he could have an on-base percentage of .350 or better, he would be a good leadoff man for the Colorado Rockies.

Also, the Colorado Rockies need an infielder with Trevor Story leaving and Fletcher could play one of a few infield positions.

Fletcher can play second base, third base, and shortstop as well as left field and right field. He has the least amount of experience in right field but for second, third, shortstop, and left field he has shown that he is a great defender at those positions.

He only played second base and shortstop in 2021 and he had 13 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). In 2020, he had six DRS in the three infield positions, and in 2019, he had 11 DRS between the three infield positions and the outfield.

Fletcher is entering the second year of a team-friendly five-year deal plus two team options on the end so the Angels are unlikely to trade him because of that but with the on-base percentage in 2019 and 2020, he could be a good leadoff guy for the Rockies.

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.