Lance Lynn all-in on winning now with Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a trendy pick to win the World Series in 2018, and pitcher Lance Lynn is the latest to jump on the bandwagon.
One of the highest-profile free agent players in MLB ahead of Opening Day, right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn is off the market after agreeing to a $12 million deal with the Minnesota Twins:
.@Twins, RHP Lance Lynn agree to 1-year, $12M deal, source tells https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39’s @jonmorosi. https://t.co/UZsGcIxVJW pic.twitter.com/4iDKoFHNdI
— MLB (@MLB) March 10, 2018
Lynn apparently received interest from higher bidders, but chose to take less money to sign with the Twins because he believes they can win now, per Jon Morosi:
Lance Lynn had offers from other @MLB teams that would have guaranteed him more money, but he preferred the fit with the #Twins and believes in their chance to win right now. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 10, 2018
Also per Morosi, there are performance bonuses in Lynn’s deal that could raise the total value to $14 million:
Lance Lynn’s one-year, $12 million contract could increase to a total of $14 million if he attains performance bonuses. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 10, 2018
That’s become a common refrain among baseball players, and while Lynn isn’t doing his fellow free agents any favors, he clearly feels the Twins are ready to contend.
Lynn missed the entire 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but bounced back in 2017 to go 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA with the St. Louis Cardinals and increase his earnings on the open market.
Incredibly durable before his missed 2016 campaign, Lynn also quieted rumblings about his future durability by starting a career-high 33 starts in 2017.
Now 30 years old and entering his seventh season (not counting 2016), the Twins will be the first new team Lynn has played for after being drafted by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He was first called up in 2011, but got his first major action in 2012, going 18-7 with a 3.78 ERA.
In his career, Lynn is 72-47 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.288 WHIP.
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The Twins have also signed Zach Duke, Fernando Rodney, Addison Reed, Michael Pineda, Anibal Sanchez and Logan Morrison as they gear up to make a run at the playoffs.
Jake Arrieta and Alex Cobb are the biggest names remaining on the free-agent pitcher market, and should be the next to close big deals ahead of Opening Day.