Will the Rays trade Chris Archer?
The Tampa Bay Rays ace pitcher Chris Archer could be on the move this off-season. Archer had an interesting year he went 9-19 with 4.02 ERA in 33 starts with 223 strikeouts and allowed 30 homeruns. Archer led the league in losses which isn't all his fault, but managed to only give up 183 hits over 201.1 innings pitched. He also was one of the top pitchers in strikeouts with 223 of them.
The Rays struggling offense is part of the reason Archer lost many of those games. A breakout season from Archer in 2017 is possible, but it likely won't be with the Rays. The organization is attempting to move some of their starting pitching and Archer should be one of those guys. Unless the Rays can actually put productive hitters on their team over the off-season dealing Archer could bring in those bats.
Archer is signed through 2019 to a cheap deal that almost any team would take. In five seasons Archer has a 3.51 ERA and one All-Star selection. Only 27 years old Archer is a young pitcher that the Rays could deal for a good package of young hitters. The Rays are attempting to trade pitchers such as Alex Cobb and Drew Smyly, but they won't get much in return for them. Trading Archer is the only way the Rays are going to get a young possible franchise player without paying for him.
