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With teams such as the Chicago Cubs looking for free-agent starting pitching, the market appears to be moving with the St. Louis Cardinals addressing their need with the signing of veteran Lance Lynn
Lance Lynn agrees to Cardinals deal, 1 year plus option. Guarantees $10M in 2024, plus $1M buyout on option. Can be worth about $26M over 2 with escalators. Pluses: Started with Cards, lives nearby in southern Illinois. Pending physical tomorrow.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 20, 2023
The Cardinals are rolling the dice in the hope that Lynn, who had success with the Dodgers during the second half of the 2023 season, can stabilize the backend of their pitching staff. Given Lynn's struggles before that, it's hard to feel anything close to optimistic about having him in your rotation. If he is anything like who he has been for the better part of two years, he may serve as a punching bag for the Cubs offensively in 2024.
In 2023, Lynn posted a 5.23 ERA throughout 183.2 IP. With a FIP of 5.53 last season, it would seem that Lynn nearing the end of his career. In the second half of 2023, with the Dodgers, Lynn began to turn a corner, recording a 3.57 upon being traded, but finished the year with a dreadful month of September/into October with a 5.24.
After a disappointing 2023 season, it would seem that Lynn will be the first of many moves made by the team this winter. Still, adding Lynn isn't the most impactful start. Lynn makes the Cardinals marginally better if he returns closer to form. Lynn had a career-best ERA of 2.69 in 2021 but has struggled with consistency since. If the Cardinals have envisions of returning to the top of the National League Central, the team will need to make a much more impactful signing than Lynn.