Tampa Bay Rays: The Chris Archer question

The Tampa Bay Rays were hoping that a return home would be what Chris Archer needed. After a disastrous stint with the Pirates, Archer was back, and, as the Rays hoped, better than ever. On a $6.5 million contract, he was relatively expensive, but certainly worth the flier.

His homecoming had not been what anyone had hoped, as he landed on the Injured List after 4.1 mediocre innings. But he is now feeling healthy, saying that it is just a matter of building his arm back up to handle a starter’s workload.

Tampa Bay Rays have questions to ask about Chris Archer

It is fair to wonder what, if anything, the Rays have with Archer at this point. He had allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and a walk, striking out six. This was after a two and a half year run in Pittsburgh where he posted a 4.92 ERA and a 1.395 WHiP in 198 innings, missing the entire 2020 season after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.

Given the questionable rate of success from that procedure, Archer was already a question mark for the 2021 season. Add in his mediocre start to the year, and those questions have to be even louder. Then there is the matter of where the Rays will put Archer once he is actually ready to return.

The Rays rotation has been fairly solid overall. Rich Hill found the fountain of youth again, while Tyler Glasnow is looking like an ace. Ryan Yarbrough and Shane McClanahan have been solid thus far. The one question mark is Michael Wacha.

Aside from replacing Wacha, it is difficult to see a spot for Archer in the rotation. The best option may be to use him as a long reliever, following Yarbrough and/or McClanahan as neither have proven to be able to pitch deep into games. But that all depends on whether or not the Rays feel that Archer is worth that roster spot.

Chris Archer is starting to work his way back into shape. It is still questionable as to what type of a role he will have with the Tampa Bay Rays.