Twins are down to 2 moves if they hope to add a staff ace

Time is running out with spring training starting Tuesday.

Author:
Joe Nelson
Updated:
Mar 8, 2018
Original:
Feb 10, 2018

Jose Berrios could very well be the Twins' opening day starter this season, but things could change quickly between now and when Twins pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers, Florida for spring training on Tuesday.

But with the Cubs landing Yu Darvish to a six-year, $126 million deal on Saturday, there's pressure on every pitching-needy team in the majors to sign the next best thing.

Who is the next best thing?

Debatable on a number of levels, although the consensus is that 2015 Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta is the most talented starter still available. Next, in no particular order, are Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb, followed by a number of aging arms:

Bronson Arroyo
Ricky Nolasco
Anibal Sanchez
Jason Vargas
Clay Bucholz
Andrew Cashner
Ubaldo Jimenez
Jeremy Hellickson
Jaime Garcia
John Lackey

Aside from Arrieta, none of the others are staff-ace caliber starters, leaving the Twins and other teams with one alternative route to find an ace.

Trade for Rays right-hander Chris Archer

The Twins have been linked to Chris Archer for a couple of years, and the Star Tribune's LaVelle E. Neal touted the Twins' interest in him back in December.

And it's only been three weeks since MLB Network's Jon Morosi said the Twins could be a landing spot for Archer if they miss on Darvish.

Archer is 29 and has a team-friendly contract through 2021. Aside from the cost, he's virtually a lock for 200 innings and 200+ strikeouts. Here are his numbers since 2015.

2017: 4.07 ERA, 201 innings, 249 strikeouts
2016: 4.02 ERA, 201.1 innings, 233 strikeouts
2015: 3.23 ERA, 212 innings, 252 strikeouts

A 4.00+ ERA each of the last two seasons stands out, but MLB.com's advanced analytics blames it on a lack of a supporting cast behind him, a la the Rays defense. That wouldn't be a problem in Minnesota.