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Report: Nationals looking at Rays' Archer, Odorizzi

Brian Blanco / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Washington Nationals are looking at a number of options in an attempt to improve a roster that has perpetually come up short in the postseason.

The Nats were most recently linked to free-agent starter Jake Arrieta, but the cost to sign him may prove too prohibitive. The team is reportedly looking at trades first, with their eyes primarily focused on Tampa Bay Rays starters Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi, according to FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman.

Archer and Odorizzi have each been receiving plenty of trade interest with teams expecting the Rays to enter a rebuild. Archer may have the best contract for a pitcher of his caliber, as he's poised to earn $6.25 million in 2018 and $7.5 million in 2019. Whoever has Archer after that will have a pair of team options worth a combined $20 million.

The 29-year-old Archer has spent his entire six-year career with the Rays, going 51-63 with a 3.63 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 1,044 strikeouts in 967 innings. He's also proven to be a durable arm, eclipsing 200 innings in three straight seasons.

Odorizzi is entering his second year of arbitration, and won't become a free agent until 2020. In parts of five seasons with the Rays, Odorizzi has gone 40-37 with a 3.82 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 639 strikeouts in 698 innings. Since 2014, he's been used exclusively as a starter.

Either would be a welcome addition to a rotation that already boasts perennial Cy Young candidates Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. With Archer or Odorizzi joining the ranks, the Nationals would have one of the most daunting rotations in the game.

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