Report: Rays interested in reunion with Archer

The Tampa Bay Rays have discussed bringing back right-hander Chris Archer, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

Archer became a free agent in late October after the Pittsburgh Pirates declined to pick up his $11-million option for 2021. He missed the entire 2020 campaign following surgery for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome in June.

Tampa Bay dealt the 32-year-old to the Pirates before the 2018 trade deadline in exchange for right-hander Tyler Glasnow, outfielder Austin Meadows, and pitching prospect Shane Baz.

Archer spent the first seven years of his career with the Rays. He authored a 3.69 ERA with 1,146 strikeouts across 1,063 innings while earning two All-Star nods and a fifth-place finish in AL Cy Young voting in 2015.

The Rays are looking to fortify their starting rotation after losing Charlie Morton to the Atlanta Braves in free agency.