MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 best spots for Chris Archer
By John Buhler
Chicago Cubs
NL, Central
While the top-third of the National League has clearly separated itself from the pack, the defending World Series Champion Chicago Cubs would not make the NL postseason if the season ended today. Who is to blame for the World Series hangover?
Baseball is a team game, but what tends to happen to teams that go deep into October is that they’ll see their starting rotation’s arms tire in the following season. Ace Jake Arrieta has not been himself and Jon Lester has pitched better in his big league career. What is Cubs general manager Theo Epstein to do?
One player that his team could be interested in is Archer of the Rays. Any All-Star level starter Epstein can add to his struggling rotation can only help the Cubs’ chances of getting back into October. They clearly have the bats to hang tough with anybody, but the pitching staff needs to be significantly better for anything good to happen to the Cubs in the second half.
Chicago has a bunch of interesting position players that it could conceivably throw Tampa Bay’s way for Archer. Frankly, Epstein would be more on board with parting ways with a guy in the field if he can get an arm for the future to help his club win games. Keep in mind that Archer is under contract through 2019 before hitting 2020 MLB free agency.