Good news! Cubs close in to bring back this former fan-favorite starting pitcher, manager Craig Counsell confirms.
Good news! Cubs get close to bringing it back. Rumors began to circulate that the Chicago Cubs would be adding a familiar face to their pitching staff on the same day the St. Louis Cardinals made their first free-agent signing of the offseason.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that the Cubs are negotiating a potential one-year contract with veteran pitcher Lance Lynn. After spending a significant amount of time away from St. Louis, Lynn spent the last season with the Cardinals and is currently looking for a new team. Throughout his career, he has mostly started, but he is allegedly willing to fill in on the bullpen if needed.
To put it mildly, Lynn wearing a Cubs uniform would be odd. It may take some getting accustomed to seeing him on the opposing side of the Cardinals-Cubs rivalry, since he has always been a fierce competitor. But St. Louis has gone on. In order to save money and give priority to their younger pitching alternatives, they turned down his club option this offseason. Good news! Cubs get close to bringing it back.
In recent years, Lynn, who is 37, has hopped around. With 32 starts with the White Sox and Dodgers in 2023, he had a dismal 5.73 ERA. However, he shown glimmers of his former self upon rejoining the Cardinals in 2024, pitching a strong 3.84 ERA in 23 appearances. However, Lynn only pitched 117.1 innings last season and was sometimes pulled early even though she kept runs off the board, raising questions about her durability.
He has a long history with the Cardinals. He was an important bullpen arm during their 2011 World Series run before playing a pivotal part in their rotation for five seasons. Because of his consistent, dependable play over the years, teams like the Twins, Yankees, Rangers, White Sox, and Dodgers have all gambled on him at some point.
What part would he play for the Cubs? That remains uncertain. He would probably start in the rotation, but because of his versatility and experience, he could potentially move to the bullpen if necessary. He has a thorough understanding of the NL Central, that much is certain. Additionally, acquiring a veteran like Lynn would be a wise move if Chicago is serious about contending for the division crown in 2025. Good news! Cubs get close to bringing it back.
