3 Colorado Rockies trade deadline targets for the LA Angels to consider acquiring

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The Los Angeles Angels begin a three-game weekend series at Coors Field in Colorado this weekend, looking to bounce back from what ended up being a disastrous series against the Dodgers.

This is a chance for the Angels offense to wake up playing in the best hitting environment in all of baseball following their embarrassing week of offensive futility at home. This is also a chance for the Angels to pick up some much-needed wins against the 29-48 Rockies.

While the Rockies suffer through another losing season, they do have some talented players that the Angels should explore acquiring at the trade deadline to help improve their team.

1) Rockies trade target for the LA Angels to consider: Justin Lawrence

It's awfully hard for a pitcher to succeed pitching half of their games in Colorado, but that's been no problem for Justin Lawrence this time around. The funky right-hander entered the season with a 6.57 ERA in his first 57 appearances, but he's been dominant out of the bullpen for the Rockies.

Lawrence has an ERA of 2.95 in 33 appearances and 39.2 innings pitched this season. Most notably, he's allowed just one home run despite playing in the altitude. This is awfully impressive.

Lawrence is a two-pitch pitcher. He throws a hard sinker and an outstanding sweeper. The sweeper is his primary pitch as he throws it 50.8% of the time. Opponents are hitting just .111 against that pitch with a .143 xBA. They're whiffing at it at a 36.6% clip.

Justin Lawrence, Frisbee 85mph Sweeper. 🥏

21 inches of horizontal break. pic.twitter.com/9OOf7Lc2it
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 1, 2023

The Angels signed Carlos Estevez, a former Rockie, and he's taken off in Anaheim. Can Lawrence have a similar fate? He'd give the bullpen a different look, and has been awesome in a really tough environment.

The sidearmer doesn't even hit arbitration until after the 2025 season so it's unclear whether he'd be available or not, but with the Rockies going nowhere it's not out of the question. He'd be a great addition to the bullpen.

2) Rockies trade target for the LA Angels to consider: Brent Suter

While Justin Lawrence might not be available, Brent Suter will certainly be free for the highest bidder to acquire. Suter was DFA'd by the Brewers last offseason and was claimed by the Rockies before inking a one-year deal worth $3 million to avoid arbitration.

Suter has experience as a starter but has been used primarily as a reliever in his career. He spent six seasons in Milwaukee and posted a 3.51 ERA in 196 appearances (39 starts). The southpaw is not a strikeout pitcher but he generally does a good job limiting walks and home runs.

This season Suter has a 2.81 ERA in 31 appearances and 41.2 innings pitched. The walks are a bit up as he's walking 3.0 batters per nine, but he's allowed just two home runs which again, in Colorado is impressive.

Considering his expiring contract status, Suter won't be hard to acquire at all. He'd be the reliable second lefty the Angels continue to hope Aaron Loup would be, and he's a guy who can record more than three outs if the Angels want him to.

Suter did suffer an oblique injury but it's unclear as of now whether he'll need a trip to the Injured List or not. That'll be something to keep in mind heading into this weekend's series.

3) Rockies trade target for the LA Angels to consider: C.J. Cron

The C.J. Cron trade was an interesting one at the time when the Angels made it, and now they have a chance to bring the slugger back to Anaheim. Cron spent four seasons with the Halos and slashed .262/.307/.449 averaging 15 home runs and 53 RBI per season. He wasn't quite the star they hoped for when they selected him in the first round, but Cron wasn't a bad player by any means.

Cron bounced around with three other teams before landing in Colorado in 2021 and watching his career take off. Cron had a .905 OPS and hit 28 home runs and 2021 and made the all-star team in 2022 smacking 28 more longballs with 102 RBI.

Cron struggled this season in his first 36 games, posting an OPS of .703 before landing on the Injured List with back spasms. Cron has been sidelined for over a month now with no real update for his return.

The injury and the fact that Cron has much better numbers in Colorado make him a less intriguing trade target, but the Angels do really need some first base help. Jared Walsh is not cutting it, and the team for whatever reason feels reluctant to promote Trey Cabbage.

Cron is in the final year of his deal before hitting free agency so considering the fact that he hasn't done much this season, his price tag also won't be very high. It's a worthwhile gamble for Perry Minasian to consider.

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