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Rival exec: '70 percent' chance Archer traded to Dodgers

Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Tampa Bay Rays may be saying they won't move Chris Archer, but there appears to be one potential landing spot that's just too good a fit for some to ignore.

An unnamed executive, who's engaged the Rays in trade talks, said Thursday he believes there's a "70 percent" chance the Los Angeles Dodgers will land the coveted right-hander, reports Jayson Stark of ESPN.

Archer and the Dodgers have long been linked thanks to several strong connections, including former Rays general manager Andrew Friedman, who now serves as the Dodgers' president. It was Friedman who brought Archer, then a prospect, to the Rays as part of a 2011 trade that sent Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs.

Tampa Bay, however, has repeatedly said it won't trade the 27-year-old unless they receive an overwhelming offer. The Dodgers own a deep farm system teeming with top prospects, and could potentially offer enough value to make the Rays bite.

Related: 5 teams that should make an offer for Chris Archer

Archer, who finished fifth in AL Cy Young voting last season, has struggled to regain his All-Star form in 2016. Despite his up-and-down campaign, he leads the American League with 147 strikeouts, though his 51 walks also sit atop the Junior Circuit.

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