PHOENIX -- Because they can never have enough pitching, the Dodgers were among clubs scouting the Friday night start of Tampa Bay's Chris Archer.Despite a 4-13 record and 4.68 ERA, Archer is an obvious candidate for the Dodgers because he's with the Rays, having been acquired by current Dodgers president

PHOENIX -- Because they can never have enough pitching, the Dodgers were among clubs scouting the Friday night start of Tampa Bay's Chris Archer .

Despite a 4-13 record and 4.68 ERA, Archer is an obvious candidate for the Dodgers because he's with the Rays, having been acquired by current Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman in 2011 when he ran that club.

Friedman's first trade for the Dodgers was a deal with Tampa Bay and netted reliever Adam Liberatore .

Current Dodgers management also has made several deals with the Cincinnati Reds, one of many reasons the Dodgers are linked to slugging outfielder Jay Bruce .

Acquiring a starter like Archer, a 27-year-old right-hander, would add to the Dodgers' impending surplus, when any combination of Clayton Kershaw , Alex Wood and Brett Anderson return from injury, providing chips with which to deal.

Ken Gurnick has covered the Dodgers since 1989, and for MLB.com since 2001.