Two Rockies Cubs Should Target at Trade Deadline

The thing is, the Cubs can be sellers AND buyers at this year's deadline. Maybe they won't be the blockbuster trades that fans lust for, but there are plenty of scenarios where the Cubs can not only help themselves for 2023, but for 2024 as well.

One team that has already started its fire sale leading up to the trade deadline is the Colorado Rockies. On Monday, they dealt right-handed relief pitcher Pierce Johnson to the Atlanta Braves for a pair of prospects.

Johnson, 32, has struggled overall this year, posting a 6.00 ERA in 43 games, but the right-hander has been better as of late. In his previous 12 relief appearances, Johnson has a 3.27 ERA, with 18 strikeouts in 11 innings. You might think that getting the 10th ranked prospect from the Braves is a huge price for a middle of the road reliever, but Atlanta's farm system was ranked dead last heading into the 2023 season.

Anyway, the Rockies are selling and the Cubs should be looking for a bargain.

Looking at that list, there are three potential trade targets for the Cubs, but two that I'd really like to see them go after.

The first is pretty straight forward. C.J. Cron, who will be a free agent following the 2023 season. View him as a Nick Castellanos lite type of trade target. He's a power hitter, but Cron has missed time on the injured list this season with back spasms. The 33-year-old is making $7.25 million this year and he'd instantly be an upgrade at first base for the Cubs despite Cron's down year so far.

Overall, Cron has posted a 92 wRC+ in 53 games in 2023, slashing .255/.299/.480, with 11 home runs. Since returning from the injured list on June 27, Cron has a 140 wRC+ in 63 plate appearances, recording a .949 OPS in 17 games. The right-handed hitter has legit power, hitting at least 25 home runs in every full season from 2018-22. And that all hasn't come just with the Colorado Rockies, as Cron had an .816 OPS in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays and a .780 OPS with the Minnesota Twins in 2019.

Meanwhile, Trey Mancini has a 71 wRC+ in 172 plate appearances since April 27, with a .622 OPS during that time period. It gets even worse when you look at Mancini's numbers against right-handed pitching, as he's posted a .582 OPS and 63 wRC+ in 95 plate appearances since late April. Oh and his defense has been atrocious at first base, too.

So yeah, the Cubs could use an upgrade at 1B/DH. Cron, especially because of his age and recent back issues, shouldn't be out of the Cubs' comfort zone in trade talks.

The Cubs could also use another reliable pitcher in their bullpen and the Rockies present them with a chance to buy low on a guy who could turn it around.

Veteran lefty Brad Hand hasn't had a good time pitching for the Rockies this year, posting a 4.68 ERA in 36 games this. His ERA is above 5 at Coors Field and it's below 4 away from Colorado. It certainly seems like this an outlier year for Hand, who has been an excellent reliever since he went to the bullpen full time in 2016 with the San Diego Padres. From 2016-22, Hand had a 2.89 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, with a 30% strikeout rate.

Hand signed for $1.5 million with the Rockies for the 2023 season. His deal also includes a $7 million club option for 2024, or a $500k buyout. Maybe the Cubs can get the guy who was an All-Star reliever just a few years ago for a modest price.

There's also right-handed hitting Randal Grichuk, who is having a good year with the Rockies and will also be a free agent following the season. However, I just don't see a good fit on the roster for the outfielder, but it's not like I would be against the addition either. You get creative, use the DH spot and play the best matchups in the outfield. And again, the price wouldn't be crazy for the Cubs either because their farm system is loaded with tons of pitching depth up and down their minor league teams.