Baseball players always insist they can block trade rumors out of their minds. Chris Archer, though, admits it’s not so easy.
Archer seemed to be part of more rumors than any player in the game over the past few years while pitching for the Rays. The right-hander’s performance – being selected to two All-Star Games – coupled with a very reasonable contract made him attractive to many pitching-needy teams.
“We’re super aware of what’s going on with social media and a channel that covers 100 percent baseball all of the time,” Archer said. “You can’t avoid it. You just can’t.”
The Rays finally traded Archer last July 31, shipping him to the Pirates for Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows and pitching prospect Shane Baz. Thus, it has been a rumor-free winter as Archer gets prepared for his first full season in Pittsburgh.
“There’s a sense of security,” Archer said during the Pirates’ minicamp earlier this month in Bradenton, Fla., when I asked what was different between this year and 2018. “I don’t feel like I’m out there showcasing myself. I feel like I’m going out there to win for the city of Pittsburgh and the Pirates’ organization.
“It’s a lot better feeling. Not having anything on my mind other than doing my job is going to be very comforting.”
Archer also said health won’t be on his mind by the time the regular season begins March 28 at Cincinnati.
Archer underwent surgery to repair a bilateral hernia Nov. 27, which was done in Philadelphia by Dr. William Myers. However, Archer is working out and began his offseason throwing program Jan. 1, the same day as he has throughout his career.
“I don’t start throwing 100 percent until midway through spring training, so I have plenty of time before I really need to step on it,” he said.
Archer was originally injured June 2 while pitching for the Rays at Seattle. He was placed on the disabled list with what was termed a strained left abdominal muscle and sat out five weeks before being activated July 9.
Archer admits he felt pain throughout the remainder of the season and again in November when he began working out in anticipation of the 2019 season. During last season, he was examined by core specialists in Tampa and Pittsburgh, both suggesting four-to-six weeks of rest as the cure.
“I didn’t want to get opened up, but the MRI and symptoms were saying two different things,” Archer said. “The MRI was showing something wasn’t there, but the symptoms had been lingering since May. It was time to go a different route. I didn’t want to go through another four-to-six weeks of rehab when it would also been four-to-six weeks if I had surgery. I felt it was time to get opened up and see what’s going on.”
In 17 starts with the Rays last season, Archer was 3-5 with a 4.31 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. He then went on to post a 3-3 record with a 4.30 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 10 starts for the Pirates, giving him overall totals of a 6-8 record, 4.31 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 27 outings.
The hernia was no excuse for a so-so season, says Archer.
Archer will be part of a potentially outstanding rotation that includes Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams and Joe Musgrove. Veteran Jordan Lyles, signed as a free agent in December, has the inside track to replace the traded Ivan Nova. Top prospect Mitch Keller will start the season at Triple-A Indianapolis but is likely to make his major league debut at some point in 2019.
“The scariest part about what we have as a staff is that two-fifths of our rotation – Joe and I – were injured and still pitching at a high level,” Archer said, referring to Musgrove, who also underwent abdominal surgery in October. “We both have our legs under us now. Literally.
“Mitch Keller is knocking on the door. Jordan Lyles kind of turned his career around last year. Jamo and Trevor took huge leaps forward last year and still have something more left.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do.”
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