Hackers reinforce the rotation, add the Tampa Bay archer to the deadline

PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington remained optimistic about his team, even after separating stars Gerrit Cole and Andrew McCutchen in the offseason. Even after a fainting through June, a hot start start. Even after his club found himself wading in early July

and when the Pirates responded with a 15-4 push that seemed to validate his optimism, he sent a message at the deadline of no trade waiver. The pirates have the intention to win. Not just in 2018, but beyond

Pittsburgh acquired starting pitcher Chris Archer of Tampa Bay and Keone Kela closer to the Texas Rangers in the moves that cost the team's best hopes in the Austin Meadows outfielder and pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Taylor Hearn as well as two players to name

The decision to treat three players considered part of the next wave of the club was not easy. But Huntington believed that it was necessary to strengthen a group that has a chance to reach the playoffs.

The Pirates entered the game on Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs. "Given the quality of the core, the players we have and those who are still on the horizon, the ability to add two players like this, we think, pushed us to a higher level and lets us believe that we are going to be one of those teams that has a legitimate chance to make the playoffs not only this year (but beyond), "said Huntington

Archer, twice All -Star, is 3 -5 with a 4.31 ERA in 17 starts this season for the Rays.The 29-year-old adds experience to a Pirates spin that includes three starters – Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams and Joe Musgrove – 26 years old or younger.

"I'm excited," said Archer after a series of cuddles in the Tampa Clubhouse Bay shortly after the announcement of the case. "They're super hot in that moment, and they want me. They abandoned their two best guys. Guys with very good potential. I am excited to be part of the organization that wants me, part of a rich baseball history, a hardworking community. I can not wait to get there. "

Neither one nor the other move is a rental for Pittsburgh, which was the only team not to sign free agent of the Major League last winter despite its separation with the cornerstones Cole and McCutchen in January Kela, 25, has 24 saves and a 3.44 ERA He will be eligible for arbitration starting next season and will not be eligible for the agency free until after the 2021 season.

Pittsburgh will badume the balance of $ 2,049,731 of Archer's $ 6.25 million salary. He also receives an allocation bonus of $ 500,000. for his contract includes a salary of $ 7.5 million for 2019, a team option of $ 9 million for 2020 with a buyback of $ 1.75 million and an option of $ 11 million dollars for 2021 with a $ 250,000 buyout and who knows why, Chris Archer is three years old and up this year where he's going to affect our vic that's great in our minds, "said Huntington.

Meadows, a first-round pick in 2013 The 24-year-old dominated as a leader in the under-18s, but struggled in his first season. Pittsburgh, who has kept a 2-7 record with a 7.69 ERA in 15 games (13 starts) in 2017. The Pirates have moved Glasnow to the bullpen this season with better results. The right-handed 6-foot-8 is 1-2 with a 4.34 ERA in 34 appearances.

Hearn, 23, was acquired from Washington at the transaction deadline two years ago. Hearn was 3-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 19 starts with Double-A Altoona this season

Now all three are advancing, while Pittsburgh is going from the front in the playoff race. Ten NL teams came into play Tuesday in the 5 games of a playoff spot. A little over three weeks after being the best eight games of the season under the .500 (40-48), the Pirates are one of them.

Pittsburgh is moving towards stretching with improved rotation and a back end of the enclosure. Kela joins All-Star Felipe Vazquez and Kyle Crick. The plan for now is that Vazquez continues to work the ninth with Kela and Crick working in front of him, although Vazquez is open to changing his role if it means that the Pirates are playing significant games in September and maybe even beyond. we are here to win games, "said Vazquez." It's up to (Clint Hurdle manager). That's the boss. I am fair. We're here, if he decides on a game of awkwardness, I'm up for it. This does not matter. We are trying to win games. "

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AP Baseball author Ronald Blum contributed to this report.