Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account
  • Twins to Sign RHP Chris Archer to One-Year Deal


    Nick Nelson

    The Twins may have put the finishing touches on their rotation on Monday, agreeing to terms with veteran right-hander Chris Archer on a one-year deal.

    Can the two-time All-Star rediscover his game?

    Image courtesy of Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

    Twins Video

    Jeff Passan reports that the deal is worth $3.5 million in guaranteed money, with Archer being able to earn up to $6 million in incentives. There's a mutual option of $10 million for 2023.

    Archer was once a dominant force for the Rays, named to the AL All-Star team in both 2015 and 2017, but of late he's been hampered by injuries and poor performance. After an unfulfilling run with the Pirates, he re-signed with Tampa last year but threw only 19.1 IP due to elbow issues.

    The 33-year-old Archer is, much like Dylan Bundy, a bounce-back candidate and projected back-end starter. It's not the kind of splashy move most Twins fans were hoping for, but it doesn't fill out the final obvious opening in the rotation while adding a needed dash of veteran experience.

    The structure of the deal creates plenty of motivation for Archer, who can nearly triple his base salary by reaching certain workload bonuses (games started or outings with nine or more outs recorded). He owns a career 3.87 ERA and 9.8 K/9 rate over nine MLB seasons.

    We'll update with more details soon, so make sure to check back. In the meantime, what are your immediate thoughts on Archer to the Twins?

    MORE FROM TWINS DAILY
    — Latest Twins coverage from our writers
    — Recent Twins discussion in our forums
    — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email
    — Become a Twins Daily Caretaker

     Share


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Featured Comments

    1 minute ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

    I don’t really care for this deal but another pitcher was mandatory and I guess Archer is as good as anyone else available. 

    What is it? The injuries? Are you suggesting you wouldn't trade Meadows for him?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    3 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

    Somewhat surprised that Thorpe wasn't claimed, but everyone is crunched for 40-man room. 

    Yeah I thought some bottom feeder would at least give him a chance but honestly his stuff isn't all that much better than most teams AAAA lefties.  With no great fastball velocity and a pretty poor record against elite competition I guess it shouldn't be too surprising no one wanted to handcuff their 40 man with someone like that.

    I am glad the Twins don't have to carry him on the 40 man anymore and if does well at AAA he can still get another chance.  It just kind of feels like maybe he has peaked and without the velocity we thought he was going to have.  I believe he was throwing 95 when younger.  Not consistently but he could when he needed to.  Maybe he can reinvent himself in a bullpen role yet will have to wait and see I guess.

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    One reason for concern: He had thoracic outlet syndrome, and that's a worrisome injury from which some pitchers never come back fully.

    One reason for optimism: Tying an incentive to games with nine or more outs recorded is interesting. It's probably responding to the uncertainty about how much pitching Archer can handle after his recent injuries, but it also suggests that he's prepared for a piggyback or multi-inning relief role, and hopefully it indicates something about the Twins' readiness to upgrade in midseason if there's an upgrade (internal or external) available.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    It's not a high impact move, but it is some decent insurance with Dobnak still fighting injury. I think I like Archer as a reclamation project more than Cueto right now? If Oakland is asking for the sun & the moon for Manea and/or Montas, then this seems like it might be a better decision than selling low on some prospects and giving up a load of capital.

    The contract certainly is one that makes sense. Might as well try this move now rather than hope to get a sensible deal from Oakland. If Archer can stay healthy, he could be a quality pitcher to chew up some innings. Worth a try and not too hard to move on from if he craps out. Buys us a little time so we don't need to jam Winder or someone else in before they might be ready, especially since it's starting to look like they're planning on having Duran pitch out of the bullpen?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Agreed. To me "competitive" means over .500 at the break with a shot at winning 85-88 games. I think this team is good enough to do that and maybe a little more. I also think this team could fall flat on its face and win 72-75 games again. My over/under is 83 wins. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    31 minutes ago, Sam Morley said:

    Does anyone think the rotation as is can get us to the trade deadline in contention?

    No, I do not. You know, when they negotiated Buxton's deal,  you just had the sense there would be more to come. After Correa, I still have that feeling. 

    Maybe the 28 man roster(through April?) buys a bit of time.  The expanded playoffs too.

    Still, they need another quality arm sooner rather than later. It's hard playing catch up.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    22 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

    I think it’s pretty safe to say Tampa won that trade. 

    Yes, but I threw that in that for sarcasm...  Would you rather have Cueto at a higher AAV? This feels pretty low risk at 3.5, given the affordable two-year deal if he bounces back.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Not a bad signing.  Not a great signing.  Give me a list of players who have successfully returned to form after Thoracic Outlet Surgery.  There isn't one.  However, he may give us sufficient innings to hold us over to the trade deadline.  Maybe more will be available at the deadline than right now.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    13 minutes ago, PseudoSABR said:

    Yes, but I threw that in that for sarcasm...  Would you rather have Cueto at a higher AAV? This feels pretty low risk at 3.5, given the affordable two-year deal if he bounces back.

    It is a mutual option, so either Archer or the Twins can decline it. IIRC such options rarely get picked up.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I like the move. I have always really liked and rooted for him. He is a cheap option and if he works then we have an option on him for next year too. A couple of days ago I was looking at the FA list and saw that he was a Free Agent and thought we should try him out. So overall i am happy with the move and hope he will pan out. I Can't see Winder or Thorpe or any of those guys on the border of being Major leaguers doing any better than Archer can do but i could be wrong. He also brings some Veteran expierience among our young rotation. Also some much needed swag he knows that he is a major leaguer and the vibe i get from him is that he is going to go get that starting spot.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    3 minutes ago, jrod23 said:

    Not a bad signing.  Not a great signing.  Give me a list of players who have successfully returned to form after Thoracic Outlet Surgery.  There isn't one.  However, he may give us sufficient innings to hold us over to the trade deadline.  Maybe more will be available at the deadline than right now.

    This. I am not aware of any pitcher going thru this surgery that has come back. It’s a crying shame that our one year with Correa is going to be wasted with this pitching staff. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    28 minutes ago, PseudoSABR said:

    Yes, but I threw that in that for sarcasm...  Would you rather have Cueto at a higher AAV? This feels pretty low risk at 3.5, given the affordable two-year deal if he bounces back.

    Oh, I know, I was just being sarcastic in return.

    I don't have anything against Archer - in fact, I probably like him the best out of the remaining/recently signed options, including Pineda - but there were lots of better options that went off the table months ago and we don't need to beat that dead horse again. I still firmly believe more significant gains should have been made earlier, even if they weren't super-splashy. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    40 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

    I have no issue with this as long as the leash is short enough. I give him and Bundy both 5 starts. If the ERA is over 5.50 at that point you're cut. Period.

    I think last season showed that this FO is willing to do that faster than the previous.

    Or maybe I remember things wrong.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    2 hours ago, GKuehl said:

    At this point, it's better than nothing. My only worry is that this is the final move -- I'm still holding out hope for a top-tier starter via trade. But I wonder if teams are asking for the moon to part with their quality SP (aka Arraez, Martin, and Winder, or some similar package, for Montas). 

    I'm sure teams are asking for too much.

    With their rotation of 2 weeks ago, they absolutely looked like they'd make a desperation move. It gives the other side leverage.

    Hopefully they've upgraded a couple pegs closer toward mediocrity. For all the reasons.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, whosafraidofluigirussolo said:

    One reason for concern: He had thoracic outlet syndrome, and that's a worrisome injury from which some pitchers never come back fully.

    One reason for optimism: Tying an incentive to games with nine or more outs recorded is interesting. It's probably responding to the uncertainty about how much pitching Archer can handle after his recent injuries, but it also suggests that he's prepared for a piggyback or multi-inning relief role, and hopefully it indicates something about the Twins' readiness to upgrade in midseason if there's an upgrade (internal or external) available.

    I wonder if the "nine or more outs" also speaks to being able to use him at the ML level before he's "fully stretched out," particularly with the benefit of two more relief pitchers available.  

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    55 minutes ago, jrod23 said:

    Not a bad signing.  Not a great signing.  Give me a list of players who have successfully returned to form after Thoracic Outlet Surgery.  There isn't one. 

    Frankie Montas is one. Kenny Rogers had it in 2001 and was 75-39 in the 5 years following (2003 with the Twins). There are other success stories.

    That is not to argue that we should expect success. Several like Harvey and Hughes have not returned.

    My source is  the Athletic.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Isn't Archer on the verge of being another "tightrope veteran," that is, a guy whose velo is down around 90 mph, so he has to pitch like an artist to survive? Some guys can do it, but I haven't heard if Archer is one of them. He dominated when he could bring it in the upper 90's, but now he needs to be clever, and the question will hover over his season: Are none of the Twins pitching prospects better than this?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    7 minutes ago, Richmond Dude said:

    I'm okay with it, but the Twins have a long history of letting these second-chance guys hold on too long.  I don't want to watch Happ or Shoemaker again like we did last year.  They let those guys go way too late and it hurt the team.

    Again Shoemaker was given a longer leash because there were so many injured pitchers they literally had no one to replace him for the last 3 or 4 starts he was here.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Not happy with this.

    Every single year, SOMEONE finds themselves again. We're betting on 2 guys right now. Hopefully ONE of Bundy or Archer finds themselves again and actually performs. 

    I'm willing to lay money Bundy will be more successful than a rebounding Archer. And honestly, I thinkI Ober and Ryan are better than  Archer at this point. But why not take a cheap shot at this point?

    Despite rumors of the A's and others having pitchers available, NOBODY has made a move yet. So the market might might just be dry at this point. The Twins have the depth and money to invest if things change. But right now, we might be looking at what we have.

    Is that a bad thing? Is it OK to bet on Winder and a 8-10 man pen for now? Opportunity exists for high quality arms to prove themselves. And we have the depth to make a difference not only in 2022 but beyond. Are we there yet? At some point we have to give Opportunity or trade away.

    I don't hate the Archer flier. I'm just hoping this is a cheap flier that reaps benefits like the , Bundy, flier that just gives the Twins a little more time to let let Winder, Balazovic, and others time to make their mark at the ML level. 

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites




    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

    Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...