In an effort to unload some of their top pitchers at the Trade Deadline, the Tampa Bay Rays have traded Chris Archer to the Pittsburgh Pirates for prospects Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow.
OFFICIAL: Pirates have acquired RHP Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher22) from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for RHP Tyler Glasnow, outfielder Austin Meadows and a player to be named. ? pic.twitter.com/mYih6ybEYm
— Pirates (@Pirates) July 31, 2018
A two-time All-Star, this season Archer is 3-5, with a 4.31 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP. Archer has a career 3.69 ERA, with a 1.23 WHIP, 1146 strikeouts to only 347 walks.
The 23-year old Meadows is currently in the Majors, receiving NL Rookie of the Month honours in May. The young player is hitting .292/.327/.468 with five homers, 13 RBIs and four steals in 49 games.
Glasnow, 24, also has departed the minors to enter the big leagues. He has struggled as a starting pitcher in the majors, posting a 7.69 ERA last season. He has moved to the bullpen, where he has a 4.34 ERA with 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates Acquire Starting Pitcher Chris Archer from Rays
Archer will make a significant impact on a Pirates rotation that has three starting pitchers 26 years or younger in Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams, and Joe Musgrove. This was the second big addition Pittsburgh made on Trade Deadline day, also adding Texas Rangers closer Keone Kela for left-handed pitching prospect Taylor Hearn and a player to be named.
The Pirates are right there for the NL Wild Card after a tremendous 15-4 run in their last 19 games. They are now three and a half games back of the wild-card spot. The Pirates now control Archer’s remaining contract all the way through 2021, with the latter two seasons team options for just over $8 million per.
For a few seasons, Archer has consistently been on the trading block but has always stayed with the Rays. But today’s trade proved to be a win-win for both clubs. The Pirates are able to get their ace, who may lead the team back to the postseason. And the Rays are able to receive prospects that will accelerate their rebuild.
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