COULD CHRIS ARCHER END UP IN PINSTRIPES?

I love Yankee baseball right now.  I really can't believe the transformation.  Joe Girardi attributes it to many things: youth, new energy in veterans, more righties in the lineup, chemistry.  But here's a little nugget to gnaw on: Could the Yankees be up to mentoring young pitchers who are on losing teams and make them winners in New York?  This is something that Jack Curry eluded to during the pre-game on Saturday with regards to Tampa Bays' pitcher Chris Archer.  The 27-year-old, 6'3" starting pitcher has a terrible record of 8-17 into Saturday's game.  He's a good pitcher on a failing team but could he be a great pitcher on an up-and-coming club like the Yankees?

"While most of the Rays’ starters have been chatted about in one way or another over recent weeks, staff ace Chris Archer has been most closely tied to Los Angeles, though it’s not clear at this stage whether he’s the focus," reported MLB Rumors on August 1st.  But now that we are heading toward the middle of September and the Yankees are in the pennant race, could Archer be someone the Yankees talk to their Division rivals about before the end of the regular season?  Curry suggested that this could be something that the Yankees discuss with the Rays' management.

(In photo: Luis Cessa)

I think it is an interesting possibility.  Could Archer be released and the Yankees be the suitor?  I'd say, I would rather this Chris and then the head case of White Sox pitcher Chris Sale.  I have to say, Archer has always performed well against us and with the Baby Bomber pitchers on our squad, Archer could be a nice compliment to the chemistry we have in our rotation.

Needless to say, the Yankees are finally exciting to watch.  You just don't know what's going to happen.  I would like to say that the youth movement is responsible for this resurgence of the dead team from April to July but in reality it is just what Joe Girardi suggested: it's all of the ingredients of youth, new energy in veterans, more righties in the lineup, and chemistry. Chris Archer could be another ingredient to add to the mix as we continue to pursue the possibility of baseball in the post season.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof