MLB Trade Rumors has Cubs landing one top-50 Free Agenton November 19, 2020 at 4:00 pm

Well, MLB Trade Rumors put out their top-50 free agents with predictions, and the Cubs were listed on there just one time. In fact, it was the very last spot at number 50 when they predict that the Cubs will land Chris Archer for one year at four million dollars.

Archer is a pitcher that missed the entire 2020 season (shortened to 60 games because of COVID-19) because of June surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. That ended his short Pittsburgh Pirates tenure and he is now a free agent looking for a new home.

Archer became a Pittsburgh Pirates player when he was dealt there in a trade that sent Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows back to the Tampa Bay Rays. Archer was a great Rays pitcher leading up to the trade for seven years. With Tampa Bay, he was an all-star twice (2015, 2017) and had a fifth-place Cy Young Award finish in 2015.

The Cubs adding an arm like this would do them well if they were trying to win in 2021. Pitching and defense were the keys to their success in 2020 anyway so they may go for a guy like him. Most of his career was spent on bad teams which is why his record is only 60-80 but he does have a career 3.86 ERA and 1.253 WHIP. He would replace someone like Jon Lester who will not be back with the Cubs.

A one year deal for Archer could be a low risk/high reward move for the Cubs. Some signs point to them being a rebuilding team but we don’t know that for sure yet. If they want to try and extend their playoff success for another few years, Archer would be a guy to consider for sure.