BREAKING: Pittsburgh Pirates Acquire Chris Archer In Blockbuster Trade

(Photo by Joseph Garnett Jr./Getty Images)
(Photo by Joseph Garnett Jr./Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have stolen the spotlight at the 2018 Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline

A few hours after adding shutdown reliever Keone Kela from the Texas Rangers, the Pittsburgh Pirates have swung another trade. This one is an absolute blockbuster and arguably the biggest of Neal Huntington’s tenure as the team’s GM.

According to multiple sources, the Pirates have traded outfielder Austin Meadows, pitcher Tyler Glasnow, and a player to be named later to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher Chris Archer. Archer was the best starting pitcher available at the deadline this season, and gives the Bucs an excellent 1-2-3 in their rotation along with Jameson Taillon and Joe Musgrove.

While the price the team paid for Archer was high, it was worthwhile. The past four seasons Archer owns a 3.48 FIP and has average fWAR of 4.02. Due to option years at the end of his contract, Archer remains under team control through the 2021 season.

This season Archer owns a 3.62 FIP, 24.7% strikeout rate, and a 1.7 fWAR in 17 starts. Moving out of the American League East and to PNC Park will be a benefit for Archer. Throughout his career, Archer has struggled against AL East team.

As was said above, the price for Archer may seem high but it’s a good trade by the Bucs. In 165 plate appearances at the Major Leauge level this season Meadows owns a .335 wOBA, 110 wRC+, and a 0.2 fWAR. However, he has struggled immensely after a hot start the first few weeks he was in the Majors.

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Meadows has also struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout his minor league career. This season included as he has struggled to the tune of a .279/.318/.394/.712 slash line for the Indianapolis Indians.

The Pirate organization is also deep in the outfield. Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco remain under contract through 2021 and 2023, respectively, Jason Martin is kicking down the door at Triple-A, and Corey Dickerson has expressed interesting in signing a long-term deal with the Pirates.

As for Glasnow, the once top flight pitching prospect has turned into a reliever. While Glasnow has found a good niche in the Pirate bullpen, he was more than expandable in a deal for Archer. Especially with the addition of Kela.

Adding Archer and Kela makes the Pirates the winners of the 2018 MLB trade deadline. Kudos to Neal Huntington and company for investing in this group of players and rewarding them by making the Bucs better both now, in 2019, and beyond.