Sorry for the prolonged stretch without a new post – I was getting my BN Blogathon-mandated tattoo! I am currently at Wrigley Field, outside the Foo Fighters concert, and I am finding that typing already feels a little wonky given the movement required in the forearm. Whoops.
OK, a thing to discuss: the latest on Chris Archer, ever-rumored trade piece who actually maybe might be traded this time. Marc Topkin earlier reported that Tampa Bay had taken things to the “best and final offer” stage, so they are clearly at least at a different level of seriousness than in years past. That doesn’t mean Archer WILL be traded, mind you, but they aren’t just listening to one or two teams that have checked in.
There are six teams still in on Archer, according to Jon Morosi: Padres, Braves, Yankees, Brewers, and TWO Mystery Teams. Based on earlier reports, it sure seems like one of those Mystery Teams is the Pirates.
For a while, the Padres have seemed like the strangest bidder, because, while they have the 2019 and beyond need and have an insane cache of prospects, they have no use for Archer THIS season, and that’s a huge chunk of his value to contenders. And, to that end:
Sources: With 19 hours to go before the trade deadline, the Padres do not believe themselves the likely destination for Chris Archer. Things, of course, can change quickly, but it currently seems unlikely San Diego would surrender the value the Rays are seeking.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) July 31, 2018
And that’s how it should be. Since the Padres aren’t getting “value” for these final two 2018 months of Archer, other teams that DO get that value should be willing to bid much more. Matching those prices, then, would be silly for the Padres.
Also, no, I don’t think the Cubs are one of those Mystery Teams. Although they are rumored to still be in on controllable starters, and Archer is the most rumored name on that front, the required big league pieces it would take to get him just seem like too much to trade right now in the middle of the season.