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Chicago Cubs: Revisiting the infamous Chris Archer trade

Logan Whaley|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 28: Chris Archer #24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 28, 2019 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Pirates 8-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 28: Chris Archer #24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 28, 2019 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Pirates 8-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Chicago Cubs: What could have been?

Archer broke into the league in 2012. It was the first full season of Cubs baseball under the newly minted Theo Epstein era. He experienced his best season in 2015, the same year Chicago made their impressive run to the National League Championship Series.

In 2017, Archer earned his second All-Star selection. Since then, Archer has not been great. Between 2018 and 2019, the right-hander posted a combined 4.70 ERA and started just 50 games between the two years.

While he did his best to fight the fall into mediocrity, Archer was a dominant pitcher for many years. Those ‘golden’ years he could have been in Chicago would have been a boon for the Cubs. On the other hand, the recent news about his needing major shoulder surgery might spell the end for the former top prospect.

In the grand scheme of things, Chicago won a World Series despite the trade years prior. Imagining what could have been with Archer and the Cubs is still a fun thing to fondly look back on in present times.

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