Cardinals reunite with Lynn on one year contract

*Photo from Yahoo Sports*

   This career has gone back to where it began. The St. Louis Cardinals and RHP Lance Lynn have agreed to a one year, $11 million contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The Cardinals have confirmed the deal.

   Lynn's contract has $11 million guaranteed and has another $3 million available in bonuses. There is also a team option for the 2025 season worth $12 million with a $1 million buyout. Lynn spent the first 6 years of his big league career with the Cardinals after being a first round pick, and now he returns for another year.

   In 2023, Lynn suited up for the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. He posted a combined 5.73 ERA, 5.53 FIP, and 1.394 WHIP, leading the major leagues by allowing 44 home runs over 183 2/3 innings and 32 starts. He allowed 4 runs in 2 2/3 innings in his only playoff start.

   The Cardinals won the World Series in 2011, the same year Lynn made his big league debut. He appeared in 18 games in the regular season that year but went 2-0 in 10 appearances in the playoffs, including winning a game in the World Series.

   Lynn has 12 years in the majors under his belt, playing for 6 different teams, including the Cardinals. He has accumulated a 3.74 ERA, 1.272 WHIP, and 3.79 FIP, averaging 3.1 walks per 9 innings and 9.1 strikeouts per 9 in 317 starts, 24 relief appearances, and 1,889 innings pitched. Lynn has a 5.64 ERA and 1.665 WHIP in 60 2/3 innings and 28 appearances in the playoffs.

   Pitching proved to be a big weakness for the Cardinals as they finished in last place for the first time in 33 years. They finished 24th in ERA with a collective 4.79 mark, 26th in rotation ERA with a 5.07 mark, and 23rd in relief ERA with a 4.47 mark.

   The Cardinals also finished the season averaging 6.9 strikeouts per 9, finishing second worst in baseball, ahead of only the Colorado Rockies. That led to them trading away 5 pitchers come the trade deadline day.

   Entering the offseason, the Cardinals only have Steven Matz and Miles Mikolas as established starters in their rotation. Jack Flaherty and Jordan Montgomery were traded last year, Adam Wainwright is retired, while Jake Woodford and Dakota Hudson were non tendered and are free agents.