Pirates' Big Deal: Reaction To Chris Archer Acquisition

PITTSBURGH, PA - The deal unquestionably was the biggest Tuesday at the Major League Baseball trade deadline. The Pirates acquired former All-Star pitcher Chris Archer from the Tampa Bay Rays, but gave up a lot to get him: rookie outfielder Austin Meadows, reliever Tyler Glasnow and a player to be named later.

Was it a good deal for the Bucs? Here’s what people are saying about the trade:

• Bob Nightengale, USA Today: “(The Pirates) on trade deadline are traditionally as conservative as Rush Limbaugh, never letting a playoff race stop them from staying pat or even trading away players, focusing solely on the future. Now they’ve suddenly become more aggressive than freshmen kids at their first college keg party. The Pirates stunned the baseball industry by swooping in and landing (Archer).”

• Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune: “The Pirates gave up a haul for Archer, but may have won back some of their fans after dealing Gerrit Cole and Andrew McCutchen last offseason. No one believed them when they said it wasn’t a rebuild. Now we do.”

• Yahoo Sports: “he good news for Chris Archer is that he finally got traded...The bad news is that he’s headed to Pittsburgh, which many would consider the NL’s version of Tampa Bay. Like the Rays, the Pirates don’t spend much money and rarely make the moves needed to get them over the top. If Pittsburgh isn’t a real contender by this time next year, the process could start over again for Archer.”

• Pirates owner Bob Nutting: "Our collective confidence in this core group of players made this the right time to seize an opportunity and continue in the clear direction that was set this offseason. We needed to get better then and needed to get better now. These moves should make us a stronger team this season and beyond."

• Lauren Theisen, Deadspin: “Now that Archer forms a partnership with bargain-priced starter Jameson Taillon, the Pirates have two pitchers who are better than average in their rotation. Good for them! With a little more moxie, they could one day be just like a real ball club!”

• David Schoenfield, ESPN: “The Pirates landed two pitchers (Archer and Texas Rangers closer Keona Kela) who not only will help them in the wild-card race but also are under team control through 2021. The Archer trade seemed to be generally panned on Twitter, but I like what the Pirates did.

• Chris Archer, Pittsburgh Pirates: “Coffee recommendations in Pittsburgh?? I like high quality coffee & a nice spot to read, relax and listen to music.”

Photo: Getty Images.

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