MLB trade rumors: Chris Archer confident he won’t be traded

The ace of the Tampa Bay Rays is confident he will be still be with the team come Opening Day.

Chris Archer, the 29-year-old starting pitcher whom the Rays are reportedly in consistent talks to trade, spoke with Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times and, after talking with the Rays GM, Erik Neander, stated he was feeling pretty good about being with the Rays in 2018.

Archer is signed through the 2021 season and is slated to make $6.6M during in 2018. That is an extreme bargain for the type of value that Archer provides.

With the trade of the greatest player in franchise history, Evan Longoria, the Rays were seemingly entering a rebuild stage, but they haven’t made a move since that trade’s completion on December 20th.

This offseason has been among the slowest in modern MLB history as there just 20 days left until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, and several notable players are still available through free agency, clogging up potential trades.

The Rays will always listen, but as of now, it looks like Chris Archer will be on the mound for Tampa Bay on Opening Day on March 29th.