MLB Trade Rumors: Minnesota Twins targeting Chris Archer?
By Jason Evans
The Minnesota Twins are in need of starting pitching. After losing out on Yu Darvish, they appear to be setting their sights on Rays’ ace Chris Archer in a trade.
The Minnesota Twins have a chance to make the playoffs for the second straight year. With three teams in the division rebuilding, they have a real opportunity to take advantage of it. A weakness of theirs is starting pitching. Ervin Santana is out until May after finger surgery. Phil Hughes is recovering from surgery during last season.
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Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn, and Alex Cobb are still out there on the free agent market. However, the Twins appear to be looking at the trade route. Their main target? Rays’ ace Chris Archer.
"One pitcher the Twins have targeted is Rays righthander Chris Archer, and the club made a trade offer as recently as two weeks ago, a source confirmed. Tampa Bay has some interest in outfielder Max Kepler as part of any package for Archer. Kepler, with a year and 153 days of service time, in under team control for five more years, which appeals to the Rays. Kepler, who turned 25 Saturday, batted .243 last season with 19 homers and 69 RBI"
Archer has two years left on his deal with two club options at $9 million and $11 million in 2020 and 2021, a bargain for a pitcher of his ability. Yes, he only went 10-12 with a 4.07 ERA, but he struck out 249 batters in 201 innings last year and had a FIP of 3.40.
If the Twins were to deal Kepler, it would cause a hole in right field. They could turn to prospect Zack Granite. They could dip into the free agent market and sign Jose Bautista or Melky Cabrera for example. If they want to really go for it, Archer and signing J.D. Martinez for right field could put them into a higher level in the American League.
The Twins could go after a free agent like Arrieta. According to the same report on Archer, the Twins offer for Yu Darvish was five years for at least $100 million, so the Twins have some money to spend.
If I were the Twins, I’d target Cobb or Lynn and keep Kepler. A strength of the club was their outfield defense, especially considering the size of their outfield and Kepler is a part of that with five DRS. I don’t think taking away from one strength to improve another area isn’t the best way to go about it.
Pitchers and catchers for the Minnesota Twins report tomorrow. If the Twins have their way, they could have a new arm heading to Fort Myers with the rest of them.