Chris Archer

[William Malone]

Christopher Allen Archer was born on September 26, 1988 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Cleveland Indians drafted him in round five of the 2006 MLB Draft. He was traded twice while still a prospect, and made his Major League debut for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012. Archer went 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA during that first bit of big league action, making four starts and two relief appearances.

He became a regular in the Rays rotation in 2013, going 9-7 with a 3.22 ERA over 23 starts. This performance helped him to a third place finish in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Archer was 41-53 with a 3.66 ERA between 2014 and 2017, making a league high 133 starts during that span. He was named an All-Star twice, and finished fifth place in the 2015 AL Cy Young voting.

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Archer at the deadline in 2018. Injuries and ineffectiveness clouded his time in Pittsburgh. He made just 23 starts and posted a 5.19 ERA in 2019, and missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Tampa Bay brought Archer back on a one year deal in 2021. He made just five starts with a 4.66 ERA.

Archer signed a one year contract with the Minnesota Twins in 2022. He recorded a 3.08 ERA through his first 15 starts with the Twins, but lacked the ability to work deep into games. Archer completed five innings only three times during that 15 start stretch. They placed him on the injured list due to hip tightness in early July, and he was less effective upon returning after the All-Star break. Archer had a 6.75 ERA in his first ten starts back, getting shut down for good in mid-September.

As of 2025, Archer works in the Los Angeles Dodgers front office.

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