Two-time All-Star pitcher Chris Archer has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
According to Passan, the contract will pay Archer $3.5 million in 2022, and he can earn up to $9.5 million with performance bonuses.
Right-hander Chris Archer and the Minnesota Twins are in agreement on a one-year, $3.5 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Archer, 33, will join the Twins' rotation and can earn up to $9.5 million this season with performance bonuses.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 28, 2022
Chris Archer’s deal with the Twins has a base of $2.75 million and a $10 million mutual option with a $750K buyout. He can earn up to $6 million in bonuses based on games started or outings with nine or more outs. A healthy Archer would get paid well and be a huge boon for Twins.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 28, 2022
Source says Chris Archer has already passed his physical after signing a one-year deal with #MNTwins. He’s already in camp.
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 28, 2022
Archer, 33, was one of the best pitchers in the American League with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2013-17 and put together a 3.71 ERA over eight seasons with the Rays. However, he hasn’t been worth at least 1-WAR — according to Baseball Reference — in a season since 2017 and has dealt with several injuries (including surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in 2020).
In 2021, Archer had a 4.66 ERA and 4.26 FIP in 19 1/3 innings with the Rays. He averaged 92 mph on his fastball, after averaging 94-95 mph annually from 2012-19.
But it’s not a big financial commitment for Minnesota- and if it turns into $9.5 million, that would mean that Archer performed very well, so the Twins would be quite fine with that.
It’s been an extremely busy offseason for the Twins, headlined by the shocking signing of superstar shortstop Carlos Correa.
Here’s a look at some of the Twitter reaction to the Twins signing Archer:
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was on the Rays coaching staff for Chris Archer’s two All-Star seasons in Tampa Bay.
Twins front office pitching guru Josh Kalk also held a similar role with the Rays during Archer’s time there.
In other words, Twins are very familiar with Archer.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) March 28, 2022
Here is video of new #MNTwins starting pitcher Chris Archer. 1-yr deal w/ a base of $2.75M, can earn millions more based on starts/number of outs recorded. '23 mutual option worth $10M w/ $750K buyout. When Archer is on, as seen in this clip, he can get great hitters to struggle. pic.twitter.com/4DE2q46ZVn
— KSTPSports (@KSTPSports) March 29, 2022
Wow, Chris Archer still out there getting guaranteed money. Good for him. Maybe he finally bounces back. https://t.co/Q7am97Ed2T
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 28, 2022
I will not let myself be Twinspilled but I don't think it takes a ton of mental gymnastics to see a Gray/Bundy/Ryan/Ober/Archer rotation do juuuuuuuuust enough to keep them in games for the offense to take them to the playoffs
— Jon Becker (@jonbecker_) March 28, 2022
Chris Archer has so much more upside than Matt Shoemaker ever did, and the prospects behind him are much more ready than they were last year. If Archer struggles, Twins can easily cut bait in May and move to the youth.
Solid move. Now go sign an ace and we’re set.
— Matthew Taylor (@MatthewTaylorMN) March 28, 2022
This is actually the second archer the Twins have signed pic.twitter.com/CRyXh6jalW
— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) March 28, 2022
