Archer was present Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings after he recently joined the Dodgers' front office as a special assistant in baseball operations, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Archer never officially announced his retirement, but his move into Los Angeles' front office would seem to signal that his playing days are over. The 35-year-old didn't pitch anywhere in 2023 after collecting a 4.56 ERA over 25 starts for the Twins in 2022. While injuries and ineffectiveness plagued his last few seasons, Archer was one of the better pitchers in the American League for a five-year stretch from 2013 through 2017, posting a 3.60 ERA and 1008:303 K:BB over 937.2 innings. He made two All-Star teams and finished fifth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2015.
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Chris Archer: Moving on from Minnesota
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The Twins declined their $10 million mutual option for 2023 on Archer's (pectoral) contract Monday.
Minnesota's decision to move on from Archer comes as little surprise after the veteran right-hander turned in a pedestrian 4.56 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while failing to go more than five innings in any of his 25 starts for the team in 2022 before he was shut down in mid-September with pectoral tightness. Archer should be back to full strength for spring training, but his checkered medical history and dramatic downturn in performance since his 2017 All-Star season means that he's unlikely to garner anything more than a one-year, prove-it deal on the open market. Even if another team is willing to give the 34-year-old an MLB contract this offseason, he'll likely have to compete for a rotation spot next spring.
The Twins placed Archer (pectoral) on the 15-day injured list Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Josh Winder was called up from Triple-A St. Paul to take Tyler Mahle's (shoulder) turn in the rotation Sunday against the Guardians, but the Twins will now need to find a new starter to replace Archer, who exited his outing Saturday with right pectoral tightness. Aaron Sanchez, who worked 3.1 innings in long relief Friday, and Bailey Ober (groin), who completed a four-inning rehab start at Single-A Fort Myers on Tuesday, could be the top candidates to fill the vacancy in the rotation. According to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com, Archer said he's confident he'll be ready to return from the IL in the minimum 15 days, but he could have to settle for a relief role upon being activated. Through 25 outings this season, Archer had yet to turn in a quality start and had supplied a pedestrian 4.56 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 102.2 innings.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Leaves game with pectoral tightness
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Archer left Saturday's start against the Guardians with right pectoral tightness, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander threw 40 pitches across two innings, allowing a two-run home run to Amed Rosario, before exiting the contest. Cole Sands replaced Archer and struggled initially on short notice, either walking or plunking six of the first seven batters he faced. Archer should be considered day-to-day and questionable for his next start until further notice.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Early exit Saturday
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Archer was removed from Saturday's game against the Guardians after two innings and 40 pitches, John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Cole Sands took over in the third inning for Archer, who allowed a two-run home run to Amed Rosario prior to exiting. Archer is presumably dealing with some sort of injury issue, and if that is indeed the case, the Twins should provide word before the end of the evening.
Twins' Chris Archer: Bailed out by offense Tuesday
Rotowire
Archer allowed four runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 4.1 innings against the Red Sox on Tuesday. He did not factor in the decision.
Archer was not at his best for the second start in a row. After allowing five runs over four innings in his last start, he allowed four runs over four innings Tuesday but avoided taking the loss as the Twins wound up scoring 10 runs on the night. The veteran has now allowed 27 earned runs in his last 34 innings, which has ballooned his ERA to 4.52, up from 3.08 on June 30. He will try to get back on track in his next start, which is lined up to be next week at the Yankees.
Archer (2-7) took the loss against Houston on Thursday, allowing five runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out two batters over four innings.
Archer was knocked around in a rough first inning during which the Astros put up four runs on five hits, including a three-run home run off the bat of Trey Mancini. The Minnesota hurler allowed only one additional run and three additional hits, but the early damage was enough to send him to his seventh loss. This was the sixth time in Archer's past eight games in which he's failed to complete five innings, and he's 0-4 with a 6.35 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over that stretch.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Yields one run Saturday
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Archer allowed a run on three hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings, taking a no-decision versus the Rangers on Saturday.
Archer completed five frames for just the third time in his last eight starts, and it was with one of his sharpest outings this year. He threw 77 pitches (45 strikes), though he continues to operate on a limited workload as he has for much of the year. The 33-year-old righty now has a 4.02 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 76:42 K:BB across 87.1 innings while posting a 2-6 record through 21 starts. He's tentatively projected for a tough road start in Houston next week.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Tosses four innings in loss
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Archer (2-6) took the loss during Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Angels, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts in four innings.
Archer was provided a two-run lead before he took the mound but gave it back after surrendering three two-out baserunners in the third. He fell in line for the loss when he permitted an additional run in the fourth. The 33-year-old has lost three straight decisions, during which he's allowed 17 runs in 21 innings across five turns. Archer has pitched to a decent 4.15 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 20 starts, though he's yet to eclipse five innings in any appearance. He'll look to get back in the win column next weekend against the Rangers.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Throws five innings in no-decision
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Archer did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits and zero walks over five innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out four.
The veteran right-hander was effective through five innings, as he held a strong Toronto offense to just two runs through five innings and did not walk a batter for the first time in 10 starts. Sunday's effort was also the first time that Archer has completed five innings since June 30. He has only done so four times in 18 games this season, recording just two wins in the process. He looks to get back in the win column against a struggling Angels team next weekend.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Strikes out eight in short start
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Archer allowed two runs on two hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Tigers on Tuesday.
Archer continues to operate on a reduced workload. He threw 77 pitches (49 strikes) in this contest, and he again ran out of steam in the fifth inning as he allowed the Tigers to tie the game at 2-2. Archer has yet to cover more than five innings in an appearance this year, which makes it difficult for him to qualify for wins. He owns a 4.05 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 62:40 K:BB across 73.1 innings in 18 starts overall. The right-hander is tentatively scheduled for a home start versus the Blue Jays this weekend.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Awful in Wednesday's loss
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Archer (2-5) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering six runs on three hits and six walks over three-plus innings as the Twins fell 10-4 to the Brewers. He struck out two.
The right-hander threw only 36 of 78 pitches for strikes before getting the hook after walking the bases loaded to begin the fourth inning, and Archer had to watch from the dugout as all three baserunners came around to score, blowing open a 3-3 tie. The 33-year-old has been tagged for 10 runs in 7.2 innings since coming off the IL right before the All-Star break, inflating his ERA by nearly a full run to 4.04. If the Twins add rotation depth at the trade deadline, Archer could be the one to lose his spot.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Struggles in fifth inning in return
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Archer (2-4) took the loss Sunday against the White Sox, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five in 4.2 innings.
Archer pitched quite well through the first four innings, allowing just two singles and recording all five of his strikeouts. After retiring the first two batters of the fifth inning on two pitches, the wheels came off for the 33-year-old as he walked Seby Zavala on four pitches and then gave up hits to the next three batters before being removed. It was Archer's first start since June 30 after spending time on the injured list with left hip tightness. Despite the poor showing Sunday, it has been a solid first half for the veteran, as he's posted a 3.41 ERA through 66 innings and 16 starts.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Officially activated from IL
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Archer (hip) was activated from the 15-day injured list and is starting Sunday's contest against the White Sox.
After missing the minimum 15 days with hip tightness, Archer will be back on the mound for Sunday's final game before the All-Star break. The right-hander has produced a strong 3.08 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 61.1 innings in 15 starts this season, though his 47 punchouts leave much to be desired. He'll look to finish the first half strong as the Twins take on the White Sox.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Confirmed as Sunday's starter
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Archer (hip) will return from the injured list to start Sunday against the White Sox, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Reports from earlier in the week indicated Archer was on track to pitch in Sunday's first-half finale, and that's indeed what will happen. He'll wind up missing only the minimum 15 days due to hip tightness. Prior to the injury, Archer posted a 3.08 ERA in 15 starts, though his poor 17.9 percent strikeout rate and 11.5 percent walk rate told a different story.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Poised to start Sunday
Rotowire
Archer appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the White Sox after the Twins optioned No. 5 starter Josh Winder to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
After Archer completed a three-inning, 50-pitch simulated game Tuesday, manager Rocco Baldelli hinted the right-hander could be ready to start the Twins' final game before the All-Star break, and Winder's demotion makes that an even greater likelihood. Before Archer is confirmed to start Sunday, he'll likely throw a bullpen session Thursday or Friday as he looks to prove that he's fully recovered from his left hip injury.
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Twins' Chris Archer: Could return from IL on Sunday
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Manager Rocco Baldelli said that Archer (hip) could return from the injured list for Sunday's game against the White Sox after the right-hander threw three simulated innings Tuesday, Megan Ryan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Archer threw 50 pitches in the session, so he could be ready to make an abbreviated start Sunday if the Twins want to give rookie Josh Winder some extra rest heading into the All-Star break. The more likely outcome is that Archer remains on the shelf through the break, however, given that his placement on the IL in the first place was in part precautionary because of his injury history.
