Trade rumors: 7 teams that could target Colorado Rockies 1B C.J. Cron

The Cleveland Guardians could use C.J. Cron

The Cleveland Guardians are also in the thick of the playoff hunt as they are just 1.5 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot.

Offensively, they have struggled a bit as a team. Defensively, much like the Rockies, they are a very versatile team, which would allow them to fit Cron in at first base.

Josh Naylor and Owen Miller have split duties at first base (38 games for Naylor and 37 for Miller). Naylor has been of their best hitters but he can also play the corner outfield spots.

Miller has really regressed after a scorching start to the season (.400 average and a 1.166 OPS in April, .198 average and a .532 OPS since May 1) so he could be benched or sent back to the minors. He can play the other infield spots so it might be more beneficial if he was on the bench.

If Naylor moved to a corner outfield spot, their corner outfielders and DH (Franmil Reyes, who’s also a corner outfielder) have not hit well after hot starts and their center fielder hasn’t hit well either.

Since May 1, Steven Kwan is hitting .259/.339/.318. Óscar González is on the injured list. Center fielder Myles Straw has a 60 wRC+. Overall, since May 1, Cleveland’s outfielders have a 71 wRC+, which is the worst in baseball.

Overall on the season, Cleveland’s DH spot has a 74 wRC+, which is third-worst in baseball.

The Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox were the favorites in the AL Central to start the season but not even halfway into the season, they are on the periphery of the playoffs since they are third in the AL Central and 4.5 games back of the third AL Wild Card spot. But with the right additions, they could find themselves back in the thick of things.

If the White Sox acquired Cron, like the Guardians, they’d have to do some defensive changes but they still could make things work.

José Abreu is their primary first baseman. Their bats are about even but Cron is the superior defender so Abreu could DH. Andrew Vaughn has been their primary DH and he is hitting well. He’s not a great defender but he could play either of the corner outfield spots (he has played 17 games in left and 20 games in right field this year).

Outside of Vaughn in left field, none of the players who have played at least three games out there have a wRC+ above 83. Outside of Vaughn in right field, none of their players who have played a single game in right field have a wRC+ above 91.

In other words, they need to address a few areas offensively but Cron would definitely be a good start.