Latest Chris Archer workout clip could suggest Dodgers are interested

Chris Archer is … rehabbing at a Los Angeles Dodgers facility?

Up until the Los Angeles Dodgers signed reliever Blake Treinen to a two-year, $17.5 million contract, they were largely browsing in the dollar store. They traded for Corey Knebel and signed Brandon Morrow and Tommy Kahnle. Not exactly big market team moves.

But they were extremely shrewd. The Dodgers largely bought low on all of those high upside guys and bolstered their bullpen for 2021 and 2022. Could they now be doing the same with their starting rotation? You can never have enough arms, after all.

Chris Archer is your carbon copy of a buy-low candidate. Low-risk, high-reward. He has a connection with the organization — Andrew Friedman traded for the right-hander when he was running the show for the Tampa Bay Rays years ago. And now … Archer appears to be rehabbing at a Dodgers’ facility?

You see that Dodgers logo in the background! It’s right there! This is no photoshop, either. It’s directly from Archer’s account. Also, is that a Dodgers’ hat?

At this point, it’s clear the Dodgers probably aren’t signing Trevor Bauer, and there aren’t many other worthwhile options on the free agent market to displace one of their current starters — their rotation is stacked with Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Julio Urias, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin.

But there are question marks surrounding Price in addition to injury concerns with Kershaw (his back has been bothering him for years now). All of a sudden, they’re in need of a starter in this potential worst-case scenario.

The concerns surrounding Archer? He hasn’t really been good since 2017 and he’s coming off thoracic outlet surgery, which is a significant procedure that we’ve seen many pitchers fail to bounce back from. But never say never! Archer’s always in the right mindset and he’s just a few years removed from an All-Star campaign. He was an absolute workhorse for the Rays from 2014-2017, averaging 202 innings pitched across that timeframe. Being trapped in Pittsburgh doesn’t exactly help your production.

If he’s added, look for the Dodgers to take their time with him in hopes he can regain his form later in 2021.

Dodgers sign Blake Treinen in statement move for bullpen

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed reliever Blake Treinen to a two-year deal, a massive move for the consistency of their bullpen.