Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Twins Add Lance Lynn in Latest Move

Lance Lynn: 11-8, 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 153/78 K/BB, 186.1 IP
One year, $12 million

Unlike Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn did not get the kind of contract he was looking for, signing for just $12 million on a one year deal. It can run up to $13 million if he reaches 170 innings this season and $14 million if he reaches 180 innings, but it is still far short of the $50 million+ deal he was expected to receive. The good news about a one year deal for Lynn is that he'll be a free agent next season in what has to be a better market. Lynn joins a new-look Twins team that has already added Jake Odorizzi to the rotation, Addison Reed, Fernando Rodney, and Zach Duke to the bullpen, and Logan Morrison to the lineup. The Twins' rotation is looking good for the season, with Lynn joining Odorizzi, Ervin Santana, Jose Berrios, and Kyle Gibson, with Phil Hughes and rookie Stephen Gonsalves acting as insurance. Lynn was a quietly above-average starter for the Cardinals from 2012-2015, then missed 2016 with Tommy John surgery, but picked right back up where he left off in 2017 by posting a 3.43 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a 153/78 strikeout to walk ratio over 33 starts. He's a bit inconsistent, and the increased walk rate is a bit troubling (career high 10.1% in 2017) as well as the diminished strikeout rate (career low 19.7%). Lynn should be a solid #4, but don't get ahead of yourself in thinking that he could turn the Twins rotation from a good one to a great one. For his career, the Indiana native and former Ole Miss Rebel is 72-47 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP over 183 games (161 starts), all with the Cardinals. 

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