The Pirates might decide to explore the trade market rather than free agency to acquire a starting pitcher. Chris Archer is a rather appealing target.
We know the Pirates want to acquire a starting pitcher this off-season. We also know they’d prefer a veteran to go with their young staff. What we don’t know is who they will acquire or how they will choose to fill the final rotation spot. Free agency is not ideal for acquiring a proven, top-flight pitcher, especially this off-season, as the price for starters has increased exponentially over the years. The trade market might be the better approach for the Pirates, as they have the assets to acquire almost any pitcher they want in the league.
One name that was briefly connected to the Pirates during the season was Tampa Bay Rays ace Chris Archer. Archer was having a poor season, as he held a 4.66 ERA pre-All Star break, and the Rays were fielding offers for him. Despite many thinking his value was down and Archer could be had for less, the Rays didn’t seem to want any package short of multiple top prospects, which the Pirates didn’t want to do mid-season. But now that it’s the off-season, that affords the Pirates more time to discuss deals with teams, including the Rays. Could the Rays and Pirates make an Archer-to-Pittsburgh deal work?
I think so, and I’d like it to happen. I think his first half of last season was a fluke. While he pitched to a 4.66 ERA in the first half, he finished with a 4.02 ERA after a 3.25 ERA in the second half. He also threw 233 strikeouts, the second-highest total of his career. His walks and hits were right in line with his regular season totals from the previous two seasons as well. I really think he just had a bad first half. All players, even star players, go through slumps.
Archer is attractive for three big reasons. One, he is a clear ace. He has a career 3.51 ERA, and has 200-inning, 200-strikeout potential every year, all while pitching in the AL East. Second, he’s young. He’s only 28 and would actually be the oldest starter for the Pirates. And third, his contract is incredible. He is signed through 2019 with club options in 2020 and 2021. That 2021 option is the most expensive year of his deal and is worth a mere $8.25 million. If the first half of last season was just a fluke, Archer could arguably have of the most valuable contracts in all of baseball. Money would clearly not be an issue if the Pirates chose to acquire him.
What would it cost to get him? During the season it was rumored that the Rays wanted two top prospects from the Pirates, including Tyler Glasnow. While I would not part with him or Jameson Taillon or Josh Bell, I wouldn’t mind trading a couple of other top prospects for him. I’d include Kevin Newman, Mitch Keller, Cole Tucker, Ke’Bryan Hayes, or any other prospect outside of Austin Meadows. I’d also be willing to include a major leaguer as well. Why not trade Jordy Mercer, move Jung Ho Kang to short and start David Freese at third? The Pirates have the pieces, both in prospects and major leaguers, to get a deal for Archer done.
Imagine a rotation of Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Chris Archer, Tyler Glasnow, and Chad Kuhl, with Steven Brault and Drew Hutchison as depth options. The upside of that rotation is incredible. Like, towards the best in baseball incredible. We know that, ideally, the Pirates want a veteran presence on that staff. But veteran leadership on a staff is overrated. Ray Searage is there to help the young guys out, and there are veterans in the dugout at other positions to give that veteran presence to the team.
The Pirates need a starter. If they think the free agent market is going to be too expensive, they have to trade for someone. Why not Chris Archer?
Image Credit – Keith Allison (Flickr Creative Commons)
Thanks for checking us out here at Pirates Breakdown. Please make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook for the best Pirates coverage all year long!
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
