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Rays' Archer uncertain about future: 'I want to experience winning'

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the league's biggest surprises this season, but it's unknown if a winning record will be enough to keep right-hander Chris Archer interested in remaining a part of the project.

Archer has been attached to trade rumors for multiple seasons. The deadline is approaching again and the financially frugal Rays are unlikely to compete for a playoff spot with juggernauts like the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros.

Archer's future in Tampa thus remains uncertain. The right-hander does have career goals and one of them is to be a winner in professional baseball.

"I turn 30 in a couple months,'' Archer told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday. "I want to play the game for 10 more years, but there's nothing guaranteed in life. I want to experience winning.''

Archer does not appear intent on leaving. He maintains he's content in Tampa but insists he needs to see sustained success.

"If I'm going to be here, I want the process of not going to the playoffs to be expedited."

He added: "I've seen the transition. I'm not saying I'm not happy, but I know that we are still transitioning. And the faster we can speed that up and get back to the 2008 through '13, '14 days, the better.''

Archer is one of the most dominating pitchers in the game on his day, which is why Tampa locked him up to a six-year, $25.5-million extension in 2014. That affordable contract and his ability to log innings (200-plus in each of the last three seasons) are enticing to contending teams, which is why the 29-year-old's name has been floating about on the trade market. Archer clearly understands the situation at hand.

"If I'm an organization, I would want to keep me, but that's the thing, other organizations would like to have me, too,'' he explained. "I don't know why (they'd trade me). I signed a contract that is extremely affordable, especially for what I provide. Outside of being out for six weeks, take away the win-loss and stuff like that, and I cover 200 innings. I can help influence any young pitcher and player, I like hanging out with our position players, too.

"At the same time, Manny Machado, five players just came back (to the Orioles from the Dodgers) for two months of service. I'm sure it's enticing because they could get more, but if I'm an organization, I would want to keep me.''

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