MLB trade rumors: 9 teams, including Yankees, chasing Rays' Chris Archer

by Felix Pantaleón

The Tampa Bay Rays are trying to trade right-hander Chris Archer before the 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline on July 31, 2018 (7/31/18). Yankees general manager Brian Cashman remains interesed, even after adding Zach Britton, J.A. Happ and Lance Lynn in previous deadline deals.

UPDATE (11:55 a.m.): Braves and Pirates are in the mix:

pirates definitely remain in the mix for chris archer. who figured they’d be a star of this deadline? may turn out that way. @BrinkPG is on it

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018

#Braves are the team to watch on Chris Archer, as I reported on @MLBNetwork earlier today. They have been looking for a controllable veteran starter. @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2018

padres don’t appear to be at the forefront of archer talks at the moment. rays weren’t overwhelmed by their offers. reality is, since SD is really shooting to be great in 2020, perhaps archer fits others better.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (11:26 a.m.): Chris Archer will be moving Tuesday:

It still appears that Chris Archer will be the biggest name traded today with the #Braves and #Brewers grinding to get him….#Dodgers #yankees #Padres #Athletics #Indians #Cubs #Cardinals have also been mentioned as having had conversations about him with #Rays

— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (10:47 a.m.): Padres are fading from the Archer sweepstakes:

Source: #Padres pursuit of Chris Archer has lost momentum, although circumstances could change in coming hours. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (9:33 a.m.): Good chance Archer is traded? Yankees still in the running:

archer has routinely been on block for years. but as he said this time it feels different. plus, folks in the rays org seem to suggest it has a good chance of happening. padres seen as favorites. brewers, braves, pirates, dodgers, yankees (tho they seem set now w/ happ/lynn)

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018

Time is running out for the Tampa Bay Rays to decide if they will trade right-handed pitcher Chris Archer before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline.

All indications are the Rays are getting ready to pull the trigger on a deal:

#Rays sifting through offers for Chris Archer with likelihood of a deal being consummated on Tuesday. #Yankees #Brewers #Dodgers #Braves among several teams in play at this hour #MLBTradeDeadline

— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) July 31, 2018

Archer is one of the most popular starting pitchers left on the trade market.

He’s 3-5 with a 4.51 ERA in 17 starts this season.

But he’s given up three earned runs or less in each of his last eight starts.

The Yankees had been hot for Archer early. But general manager Brian Cashman has picked up reliever Zach Britton and starters J.A. Happ and Lance Lynn before the deadline, perhaps indicating he is now looking for a bat.

The Yankees have Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Clint Frazier on the disabled list, and none is expected to return for weeks.

The Yankees will take the field Tuesday six games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

Trade deadline: LIVE updates

Boston has loaded up for the stretch run, adding former Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi and Angels second baseman Ian Kinsler.

The Red Sox are also said to be in the market for a bullpen arm before the deadline.

The Yankees will head to Boston Thursday for a four-game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.