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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 players the Indians should acquire

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 2, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) celebrates as they get the last out of the seventh inning against the New York Yankees and leaves bases loaded at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) celebrates as they get the last out of the seventh inning against the New York Yankees and leaves bases loaded at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Chris Archer, RHP, Rays

Last week, we took a look at four starting pitchers – Jose Quintana, Ivan Nova, Jason Vargas and Matt Harvey – that could be trade targets for the Houston Astros. The Indians have similar starting pitching needs, and all four would be fine options for Cleveland. However, Quintana is less likely because the White Sox probably wouldn’t like to trade him within the division. That thinking doesn’t really apply to Vargas, however, because he will be a free agent at the end of the season.

But one name we mentioned only in passing, yet will surely be among the top starting pitching targets for several teams this summer, is Rays ace Chris Archer. So far this season, Archer has a 3.76 ERA, 1.68 DRA (Deserved Run Average) and 3.07 FIP in 10 starts. The 28-year-old right-hander has 77 strikeouts and 24 walks in 64.2 innings, and has held opponents to a .226/.301/.362 slash line this season.

After taking a small step back last season when he posted a career worst 4.02 ERA, Archer has been very good this season. He is also under team control through the 2020 campaign in a team friendly deal totaling $20.8 million over that span, which makes him extremely valuable to the Rays and any team trying to trade for him.

To acquire Archer, Cleveland would need to part with several top prospects and potentially a current major leaguer or two. Expect a mega prospect package similar to what the Phillies got from the Rangers for Cole Hamels in 2015. Teammates Jake Odorizzi and Alex Cobb may be easier to trade for, but a team like the Indians gunning to end a World Championship drought might be more likely to sell out for the top trade target on the market.

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