As we heard during yesterday’s flurry of rumors, the Pittsburgh Pirates are on in right-handed starter Chris Archer from the Tampa Bay Rays. Even after acquiring Keone Kela this morning, it appears that the Pirates are still making a push to acquire more controllable talent.
pirates definitely remain in the mix for chris archer. who figured they'd be a star of this deadline? may turn out that way. @BrinkPG is on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018
Archer would be controllable through the end of the 2021 season, although the final two years are team options. In each of the last three seasons, he has pitched over 200 innings and recorded at least 233 strikeouts. This season he has a 4.31 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP, which are both career highs, but his 3.62 FIP is more in line with his career stats. He had a left abdomen strain that cost him a month of this season, so that could be the cause of the slight decline in performance for the 29-year-old right-hander. Since returning from the disabled list, he has a 4.58 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 19.2 innings.
Any more rumors from today, we will include them here.
UPDATE: Two three Archer rumors with just under three hours to go.
Keep hearing if Archer goes (which is more and more likely) it is almost certainly to NL team, which makes sense, because #Braves #Brewers #Pirates are viewed as favorites. #Rays
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 31, 2018
and
#Braves emerging as favorites for Chris Archer but as we all know anything can happen with #Brewers #Pirates #Dodgers still lurking.
— Jim Bowden⚾️
and
Sources: #Brewers, #Braves, #Pirates all strongly in mix for Archer, with #Dodgers and others potentially lurking. If bidding is indeed as furious as it sounds, the #Rays have played this exactly right, taking it to the last day, trying to extract maximum value.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2018
added a fourth from Heyman with just under two hours now left
pirates (full of surprises) are said to be heavy on archer. braves, brewers, maybe dodgers others in mix, as @Joelsherman1 and @Ken_Rosenthal said
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018
His name hasn’t been brought up today for the Pirates, but it sounds like they are out on Kevin Gausman
If the #Orioles trade Kevin Gausman by 4 p.m., it will not be to the #Pirates. They're out on him.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 31, 2018
With one hour to go, Pirates still in it for Archer. No other names coming up right now, but the Pirates don’t leak trade information, so there could be a surprise in the works. Also don’t forget that news doesn’t always come out at 4PM. We could hear stuff hours later, which has happened in the past.
#Pirates have remained involved in Chris Archer trade talks today, source says. Barely more than one hour before the deadline. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2018
53 minutes until the deadline…
Industry sources say Pirates remain deep in talks with Rays about right-hander Chris Archer.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 31, 2018
Now they are supposedly in front for him…
#Pirates are in front for Archer with 52 minutes to go to deadline. Told that is way #Rays are leaning.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 31, 2018
Heyman says it’s getting closer…
sources: pirates are moving closer to a deal for Chris Archer
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018
and now a deal might be in place…
I’m told the Pirates have a deal in place to acquire Chris Archer.
— Stephen J. Nesbitt (@stephenjnesbitt) July 31, 2018
Numerous sources are reporting the deal is done. Stay tuned for details.
Report here has pieces mentioned and he usually has good info…
BREAKING: Under deal being finalized, #Rays trade Archer to #Pirates for Glasnow, Meadows and a still being decided 3rd piece
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 31, 2018
Jon Heyman says the final piece is a player to be named later and someone of real value
rays get meadows, Glasgow and ptbnl (player of real value) for archer. pirates addd a big piece.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018
