MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 best spots for Chris Archer
By John Buhler
Atlanta Braves
NL, East
Even though this is not a postseason team by any real stretch of the imagination, the one club that might have the goods to land Archer could be the Atlanta Braves. The Braves are still about a year away from really making a charge in the NL East, but this team is ahead of schedule in its rebuild thanks to its bats and SunTrust Park being secretly a launching pad.
Atlanta’s farm system is stacked to the brim with talent, mostly on the rubber. That amount of raw pitching talent could be compelling for Tampa Bay to pull the trigger and appropriately replace Archer via a Braves trade. Atlanta is in need of a high-end starting pitcher, as ace Julio Teheran has struggled this year and the back-end of the Braves rotation is suspect at best.
Archer grew up in North Carolina, so he probably has an affinity for Atlanta baseball given that he grew up in Braves Country. It’s a baseball franchise that has won over the years due to great, frontline starting pitcher. SunTrust may be a hitter’s paradise, but pitching for the Braves is always appealing to hurlers based on past reputation.
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If Atlanta can put together a more than fair package for Archer, the Braves could have a top-tier starter they’ve coveted in a guy like Archer through 2019. Two plus years of Archer might be enough time for the Braves to see if he’s worth a long-term extension. Either way, Atlanta should be done with its rebuild by the time Archer hits free agency in winter 2020.