Why haven’t the Cubs signed this guy yet, Part 4: Chris Archer
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Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images
The Cubs acquired Chris Archer from the Indians (along with Jeff Stevens) December 31, 2008, in exchange for Mark DeRosa.
In 2010, he was the Cubs’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 2.34 ERA and 1.173 WHIP in 28 appearances (27 starts) combined between Advanced-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee.
And then the Cubs traded him away, along with Sam Fuld, Hak-Ju Lee, Robinson Chirinos and Brandon Guyer, to the Rays for Matt Garza, Zac Rosscup and Fernando Perez.
This isn’t to lament that deal, because Garza was eventually sent to the Rangers for Justin Grimm, Carl Edwards Jr., Neil Ramirez and Mike Olt, and the first two of those were key parts of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series team.
Cubs avoid arbitration with Zach Davies
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Just one unsigned arb-eligible Cub after this signing:
Cubs P Zach Davies avoids arbitration and signs 8.63 million deal source confirms Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) January 15, 2021
With this signing and the others reported Friday, just one arb-eligible Cub remains unsigned: Ian Happ. I’ll post info about Happ if and when it’s available.
Below is some language I’m going to put in all the articles about Cubs 2021 arb player contracts, so bear with me, you’ll likely read it again.
Players and teams can still settle on a contract figure before going to an arb hearing, even if they exchanged figures Friday and didn’t settle. The last Cub to go to an arb hearing with the team was Justin Grimm in 2018. The Cubs “won” that when the arbitrator awarded Grimm the Cubs’ offer of $2.2 million instead of Grimm’s request of $2.475 million. Then the Cubs saved more money on Grimm by releasing him just before the da