Reports from the MLB Channel are saying that the Pittsburgh Pirates have made a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for their Ace Chris Archer.

The report says Pirates have a deal in place to acquire right-hander Chris Archer from the Rays, according to Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The package going to the Rays includes outfielder Austin Meadows and right-hander Tyler Glasnow.

Archer is controllable through 2021, with team-friendly options of $9 million for 2020 and $11 million for 2021. This lines up well for the Pirates, who have rocketed into contention this season by winning 15 of their last 19 games , but also look to contend in the coming years. In an indication of this, they also acquired reliever Keone Kela, another young arm controllable through 2022, early Tuesday morning in a trade with the Rangers.

Archer has finished in the American League’s top three in strikeouts in each of the last three seasons and has amassed 1,146 strikeouts since he debuted in 2012. He is the only pitcher in franchise history to post three 200-strikeout seasons. His consistent health is also of note: He hasn’t started fewer than 32 games in a full season, and he led the AL in starts in 2015 and 2017. Archer has posted a 3-5 record and 4.31 ERA this season, his strikeout (9.6 K/9) and walk rates (2.9 BB/9) are roughly in line with his career marks, and seven of his 11 starts since the beginning of May have been quality starts.

Stay tune to Beaver County Radio for more on this developing story!!!!!!