Report: Cubs interested in All-Star pitcher |
The Cubs are looking for another quality starter or someone that could add some youth to their starting rotation as Jake Arrieta and John Lackey might not be back with the Cubs in 2018. MLB.com and MLB insider Jon Heyman thinks that the
Cubs could make a play for All-Star pitcher Chris Archer.
"Alex Cobb remains the Ray most likely to go, though if Archer hits the block, some see the Cubs, where he was once a minor leaguer, as a good partner, assuming Rays ownership is finally over the Joe Maddon defection now (they were taking awhile to get past that at last check)," Heyman said. Archer has four years left on his contract with the Rays including $6.25 million in 2018, $7.5 million in 2019, $9 million in 2020, and $11 million in 2021. He is 4-3 with 3.61 ERA, 88 strikeouts, and 1.18 WHIP this season. In 2016, he was 9-19 with a 4.02 ERA with 233 strikeouts and a 1.24 WHIP. He was 8th in innings pitched (201.1), 2nd in the AL in strikeouts (233), and 8th in walks (67). In 2015, he was an All-Star for the American League. For his career, the 28-year old has an impressive 3.52 ERA going 45-54 with 883 strikeouts and 1.20 WHIP. The Cleveland Indians drafted him in the fifth round of the 2006 MLB Draft.
