MLB: Spring Training-Tampa Bay Rays at Atlanta Braves
Chris Archer throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

I wrote earlier that the Rays were expected to make a big announcement, Wednesday. I also followed with speculation that the front office could be announcing a six year contract extension for 25 year-old RHP Chris Archer.

We can put the speculation to rest, the Rays and Chris Archer have agreed to a six-year contract worth around $25 million, reports Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.The deal is worth $25.5 million, and will begin this season. Archer’s contract will run through 2019, and it will include team options for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

With options, the deal with Archer would cover eight years and be worth $45.5 million. The first six years of the deal would cover the pre-arbitration and arbitration years, while the options will cover the first two free years of free agency. Archer’s deal is similar to what they did with Matt Moore after the 2011 season; eight years with options for around $40MM

Archer owns a 3.47 ERA (110 ERA+), 2.69 K/BB ratio and a 46.3 percent groundball rate in 29 career outings — 27 of which have been starts. Archer finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting last season.

Dayn Perry  of CBS Sports writes,

“In essence, this deal buys out all of Archer’s arbitration years and his first free agent year, and that’s before taking into account the two club options.”

 

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