Report: Rays engaged in consistent trade talks for Archer

After the Tampa Bay Rays shipped franchise icon Evan Longoria to San Francisco last month, the front office could look to move out the ace of its pitching staff as well.

The Rays have reportedly remained engaged in consistent trade talks regarding right-hander Chris Archer in recent weeks, a source told Jon Morosi of MLB.com.

Archer has generated significant outside interest as the Rays appear to enter a bit of a rebuild. The Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, and St. Louis Cardinals are among the teams that have asked about Archer this offseason, with Morosi adding that the Minnesota Twins could see him as a secondary option should they fail to sign Yu Darvish.

Archer is coming off a third straight season in which he's reached the 200-inning plateau. The 29-year-old went 10-12 with a 4.07 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 249 strikeouts in 201 innings in 2018. He owns a 3.66 ERA over the last four seasons, which is especially impressive when considering he's pitched in the offensive-heavy AL East.

While Archer would bring a significant return, there's nothing forcing the Rays to make the deal. He's under contract for the next four seasons at a rather comfortable price. Archer is owed a combined $14 million over the next two years and has a $9-million team option for 2020, and an $11-million team option for 2021.