Free agent starting pitcher Chris Archer has an agreement to return to Tampa Bay after two seasons in Pittsburgh, ESPN and The Athletic reported Tuesday.
The deal, pending a physical, is for one year and $6.5 million, per the reports.
Archer, 32, was drafted by Cleveland in 2006 but debuted with the Rays in 2012. Archer went 54-68 with a 3.69 ERA in seven seasons with the Rays before going to the Pirates at the 2018 trade deadline for Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows.
The Pirates declined their $11 million option Archer last October, making him a free agent.
The Pirates exercised a $9 million club option on Archer for 2020, which he missed due to season-ending surgery in June to alleviate symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.
Archer is 60-80 with a 3.86 ERA in eight seasons with the Pirates and Rays. Archer was a two-time All-Star with Tampa and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2013.
