The Colorado Rockies dealt first baseman C.J. Cron and outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday night in exchange for two prospects.
The Angels shipped right-handed pitcher Jake Madden and left-hander Mason Albright to the Rockies in the trade, two days before the Major League Baseball trade deadline. Los Angeles will also receive cash considerations from the Rockies.
Cron, 33, was in his third season with Colorado and batting .260 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs over 56 games. He earned his first All-Star nod in 2022, finishing the season with 29 homers and a career-best 102 RBIs.
Cron returns to the Angels after starting his MLB career there in 2014. He is a career .260 hitter with 186 homers, 193 doubles and 599 RBIs across 10 seasons with the Angels (2014-17), Tampa Bay Rays (2018), Minnesota Twins (2019), Detroit Tigers (2020) and Rockies.
Grichuk, 31, is batting a career-high .308 with eight homers and 27 RBIs over 64 appearances. He has batted .251 over his 10-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals (2014-17), Toronto Blue Jays (2018-21) and Colorado.
The Angels added the two position players to help cope with a run of poor injury luck. Outfielder Taylor Ward (facial fractures) went on the 60-day injured list Sunday after getting hit by a pitch Saturday. Star outfielder Mike Trout (hand/wrist), third baseman Anthony Rendon (shin) and second baseman Brandon Drury (shoulder) are on the IL.
Madden, 21, is in his first season at Single-A Inland Empire and is 2-6 with a 5.46 ERA with 66 strikeouts through 14 starts.
Albright, 20, has never played higher than the High-A level and is 9-4 with a 3.62 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 15 games (14 starts) at Single-A this season.
–Field Level Media