The Pirates have placed right-handers Chris Archer and Clay Holmes on the 10-day injured list, the team announced. Archer has been sidelined with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, while Holmes is suffering from left quad discomfort. Right-handers Dario Agrazal and Parker Markel have been called up from Triple-A to fill the two 25-man roster spots.
Some type of IL placement seemed likely for Archer following his abbreviated outing last night, when he left the game after just one inning following an off-target warm-up prior to his second frame of work. This is the first noteworthy arm issue of Archer’s career and only the third IL stint of his eight-year career, though they have all happened within the last two seasons — Archer missed a month due to an abdominal strain in 2018, and right thumb inflammation cost him around three weeks earlier this year.
The seriousness of the shoulder issue isn’t yet known, though if it lingers, the Pirates could just decide to shut Archer down for the remainder of the season. It would bring an early end to what has been a discouraging campaign for Archer, with a career-high 5.19 ERA over 119 2/3 frames. That innings total would mark a new career low for Archer in his seven full MLB seasons, while also posting career worsts in walk rate (4.14 BB/9), grounder rate (36.3%), home run rate (20.2%), xwOBA (.346), and hard-hit ball rate (40.1%).
All in all, it has been a very unmemorable stint in Pittsburgh since Archer was acquired in a trade deadline deal in July 2018. The deal raised eyebrows at the time, and given that Austin Meadows and (pre-injury) Tyler Glasnow both emerged as key contributors for the Rays, the trade is now looking like a significant misfire for the Pirates’ front office.
Archer still has as many as two seasons to turn things around in the Steel City, as the Bucs hold club options on his services for 2020 ($9MM, $1.75MM buyout) and 2021 ($11MM, $250K buyout). Despite his struggles, it still seems very likely that the Pirates will exercise that 2020 option, given the uncertainty in the team’s 2020 rotation. Jameson Taillon will miss all of next season recovering from Tommy John surgery, leaving the Pirates with Archer in all likelihood, as well as some combination of Trevor Williams, Joe Musgrove, Mitch Keller, Steven Brault, and others all in the mix. Since the Bucs are likely to pursue a veteran starter anyway this winter, keeping Archer at a relatively inexpensive price seems like a logical move, especially if Archer can recapture any of his past form.
Holmes has a 6.05 ERA, 1.54 K/BB rate, and 10.0 K/9 over 38 2/3 relief innings for Pittsburgh this season. Control has been a major concern for Holmes over his brief Major League career, as he has a 7.1 BB/9 over 65 frames for the Bucs in 2018-19. This is Holmes’ second trip to the IL in less than a month, as he only recently returned from an absence due to right triceps inflammation.
Of course they will use the option. That price for archer is still a great deal. The trade was ridiculous from the start. Meadows alone would be fair what they added to the trade was nuts.
Archer was overrated . I knew this was a disaster as soon as I read the news. And that was when I assumed he would win 12 games and be a #3 starter. But he has been terrible. Probably will rank as on of the worst trades in Pirate history. Glasnow can be a top 2-3 starter, Meadows is solid and Baez many scouts said was the best of the 3. Pirates management will blame his struggles on injuries but he was horrible prior to going on the IL.
They won’t use that option if that shoulder inflammation proves to be serious.
Poor overrated Chris Archer. I remember telling you guys how overrated he was and all o heard was about his contract and blah blah blah. Yep great contract for him
ok. i gotta ask. whats up with archer. was it all just a mask? was he never really that good? im sure in a few years he can put it back together. but for now this is just hilarious to watch. its beyond frustrating for the pirates. but who cares. its a bad movie on repeat stuck in the VCR. turn it off everyone keeps yelling. how do you turn it off? well you could unplug the situation. or. just knock it around a few times. i think archer needs a swift talking too. he is lazy. my aunt thinks he is out there crying because he eats too many starbursts. i said no.
I wanted to see Holmes get a shot a starting . Hope team is keeping Ray away from Keller ! This season really went south. My alcohol consumption has really taken off.
Dice, turn away from
the dark side!
I’ve wondered if he was hiding an injury for a long time. But I agree that he has always been over-rated. The numbers have never really shown concrete evidence that he was any kind of ‘star’ pitcher.
It was always ‘potential’, but never actualized.
Holmes has really brought down the amount of hits per inning this season, as most decent pitchers do in their second season. He just needs to improve his command and lower his walk rate. I hope he isn’t seriously injured or anything.
Dario Agrazal is next best guy, I believe he will have a decent future, as his mound presence already gives one the idea that he can, at the very least, be a steady and effective number 3 or 4.
Parker Markel has been blowing hitters away in triple A, with K’s and score-less, and even hit-less innings. He is highly intriguing.
Seems like he can be a good reliever right now, let alone when he gets more big league experience
and matures enough to understand the art of getting major league hitters out on a steady basis. I also wonder if he could become a starting pitcher someday.
I should clarify that the ‘He’ I’m talking about in my first paragraph is Chris Archer.
Wow. U sound like my brother. Still have hope. Good for u
I am glad to see Markel back.One good thing about a blown season is the Pirates can experiment to find pitchers for next year that provide real depth,unlike those that were used this year.
I am sorry to hear of Archer as he was pitching better.I think Agrazal is limited to a fifth starter category.He has actually pitched decently this year.
I still think that Holmes should be given an opportunity to start next year.
The Pirates will need at least one if not two starters signed as free agents to provide a competitive team in 2020.NH has to understand that the plan on paper does not always work.
How many years has it been since Archer was Archer?
About the last time the Pirates were in the playoffs. 2015