Report: Cubs, D-Backs, Phillies among 8 teams interested in Rays' Archer

The Tampa Bay Rays have already been active on the trade market this July, but their most intriguing piece could be the next to move.

Right-handed starter Chris Archer is reportedly generating strong interest, with as many as eight teams contacting the Rays about his availability, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres each had scouts in attendance at Tropicana Field for Archer's start on Sunday.

Six days out from the non-waiver deadline, there is no mystery about where the Rays stand, as manager Kevin Cash has said he expects the club to be active. That was on full display Wednesday when Tampa Bay traded Nathan Eovaldi and Matt Andriese in separate deals.

The Padres' interest has been previously reported, with one rival executive telling Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that San Diego was making a "big push" to acquire Archer. Per Morosi, the club is unwilling to include its top two prospects in shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and pitcher MacKenzie Gore, but is willing to include two of either Luis Urias, Cal Quantrill - both right-handed pitchers - or catcher Francisco Mejia, who was recently acquired from the Cleveland Indians.

The Diamondbacks, Cubs, and Phillies round out a group of four known interested teams, with the other four teams not yet being reported.

Arizona has already consummated one trade with the Rays, swapping two minor leaguers for Andriese on Wednesday. The right-handed swingman did not pitch during Archer's start on Sunday when the Diamondbacks' scouts were in attendance.

The Cubs and Phillies have factored prominently in trade rumors, as both first-place clubs press toward the postseason. Among National League teams, the Cubs' and Phillies' rotations rank fourth and fifth, respectively, by ERA, behind the Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

On Sunday, Archer allowed four runs - three earned - on eight hits while striking out 13 against the Miami Marlins. During what has amounted to a down year for the 29-year-old, he is posting a 4.30 ERA and 3.50 FIP over 90 innings.

Archer is under team control through the 2021 season. The staff ace is guaranteed $7.67 million in 2019, with a $9-million team option for 2020 and $11-million team option for 2021.