Dodgers hire 2-time All-Star pitcher as special assistant

Nov 7, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman addresses the media at a press conference at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing in yet another 30-something former star … but this one won’t be playing for them.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported Monday that the Dodgers have hired ex-All-Star pitcher Chris Archer to serve as a special assistant in their front office. Ardaya notes that Archer, 35, is expected to have a wide-ranging role in the organization.

The right-hander Archer pitched in the big leagues from 2012-22 and was a two-time MLB All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays (also finishing fifth in AL Cy Young voting in 2015). He later went on to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Minnesota Twins but had not been on an MLB roster since the 2022 campaign. Now the news of Archer joining the Dodgers front office confirms that he is officially retired.

Ardaya notes that Archer, though he never pitched for the Dodgers, has strong ties to their current regime. Dodgers president Andrew Friedman used to be the GM of the Rays and was responsible for acquiring Archer as a minor-league prospect. Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes is also a former Rays player who was teammates there with Archer from 2012-15.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers front office is quickly becoming a who’s who of former stars. Just a few days ago, the team also hired a multi-time All-Star slugger to act as an advisor.