Pittsburgh Pirates: Three trade destinations for Chris Archer
By David Hill
Now that the Pittsburgh Pirates have officially started their rebuild, it is time to find a landing spot for Chris Archer.
With the trade of Starling Marte, it is official – the Pittsburgh Pirates are rebuilding. With a payroll of just over $43 million right now, it is not difficult to envision a rough season ahead. While the Pirates still have a few solid veterans on their roster, it is a matter of time before they too are gone, with the hopes that the bottom will fall out from under them in the standings.
One of those veterans is former All Star Chris Archer. He had been acquired in a surprising move at the trade deadline in 2018, as the Pirates were buyers with an eye towards last season. Archer was supposed to be the key – a solid top of the rotation arm that could pair with Jameson Taillon to lead Pittsburgh back to contention.
Instead, Archer has been a flop for the Pirates. Last season was particularly rough, as he battled his command and injury en route to a miserable 3-9 record, along with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.412 WHiP. In his 119.2 innings, Archer struck out 143 batters, but also issued 55 walks.
Even with those struggles, Archer could be an intriguing target for a team looking for help in the rotation. He is due just $9 million this season, with an $11 million team option for 2021. Should he be able to regain his form, and come close to being the type of pitcher he once was, Archer could be a bargain once again.
The Pittsburgh Pirates may not be able to recoup their prospect losses when it comes to Chris Archer, but it makes sense to put him back on the block. Here are some possible landing spots for the former All Star.