Chris Archer returns to Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a deal to bring back the veteran pitcher.

Funny how things sometimes come full circle. That is the case when it comes to the Tampa Bay Rays and Chris Archer The two sides have agreed to a deal which will have Archer return to the Rays after being deal to Pittsburgh in 2018.

Chris Archer did not have a great tenure with the Pirates and was hit hard on a fairly regular basis. Archer compiled a 4.92 ERA, 1.395 WHIP and a 10.6 K/9 in 33 starts in Pittsburgh, hardly worth the price tag given up to acquire him. That price tag? Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, and Shane Baz. Glasnow and Meadows are key pieces for the Rays and Bay is a promising pitching prospect in A ball.

This officially closes the door on a disastrous deal for the Pittsburgh Pirates while the Tampa Bay Rays are reaping the benefits. While Chris Archer has not pitched well the past few seasons, returning to the pitching factory that is the Rays could bring him back to his former form. Something that Tampa Bay would like after trading Blake Snell to the San Diego Padres earlier this offseason. Even 60-70% of former Archer would be a huge win for the Rays and that is not out of the question.