As the Los Angeles Dodgers faced a need for starting pitching and looked to fortify their bullpen at the trade deadline this year, they completed a deal with the Chicago White Sox to acquire Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly.
Both pitchers had endured some struggles during various stretches of the 2023 season, but the Dodgers were confident in being able to help Kelly and Lynn find their footing. Kelly missed five weeks because of right forearm inflammation, while Lynn continued to be plagued by inconsistency.
Thus to no surprise, the Dodgers declined their respective team options on Kelly and Lynn, making each of them a free agent.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the St. Louis Cardinals signed Lynn to a one-year contract that includes performance bonuses and a team option for the 2025 season:
Lynn guarantee is $11M, he can make up to $24M over the 2 https://t.co/zPH4D02UcV
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 20, 2023
Lynn had been under team control for the 2024 season with the Dodgers by way of an $18 million option. In its place, the Dodgers instead paid the veteran starter a $1 million buyout.
Although not necessarily a likely outcome, it remained possible the Dodgers would look to re-sign Lynn on more team-friendly terms, given their need for starting pitching.
Lynn went 7-2 with a 4.36 ERA, 6.16 FIP and 1.27 WHIP in 11 starts after being traded to the Dodgers. There were moments of improvement from his results with the White Sox, but his trouble with surrendering home runs persisted.
Lynn finished the season with an MLB-worst 44 home runs allowed that also ranked sixth-most all-time.
Lance Lynn returns to St. Louis
The 36-year-old was selected by the Cardinals with the 39th overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. Lynn made his debut with the team three years later and was with the Cardinals for six seasons.
During that time he went 72-47 with a 3.38 ERA in 183 games (161 starts) and earned an All-Star selection in 2012.
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