White Sox give star pitcher Lance Lynn lucrative extension
The Chicago White Sox decided to keep a core piece in house, signing star pitcher Lance Lynn to an extension through the 2023 season.
Lance Lynn has played for five teams since 2017. Maybe now he can buy instead of rent.
On Saturday, the Chicago White Sox announced a two-year extension with their star pitcher, totaling $38 million. The team also holds an option for the 2024 campaign.
The Chicago White Sox and All-Star right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn have agreed to terms on a two-year, $38-million contract extension, which includes a club option for the 2024 season.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 17, 2021
The White Sox gave Lance Lynn a nice extension
Lynn, 34, acquired during the offseason in a trade with the Texas Rangers, has been phenomenal on the South Side. Through 16 starts this season, he’s 9-3 with a 1.99 ERA, earring All-Star honors for the second time in his career.
For Lynn, this deal gives him the security he’s earned over what has been an underrated 10-year big-league career. To this juncture, the 6-foot-5, 270-pounder hurler has a 113-74 record with an ERA of 3.48. In fact, he’s only finished one season with an ERA north of 4.00, and that was in 2018 when he split time with the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees.
The former St. Louis Cardinals star has also been very durable, only twice not making 30 starts: his rookie year, and the COVID-shortened 2020 season in which he led the league in innings pitched.
For the White Sox, nabbing Lynn long term is a wise move. The rotation in Chicago is anchored by young star Lucas Giolito but also needs reinforcement moving forward with Dallas Keuchel aging and Carlos Rodon scheduled for free agency after this season.
By signing Lynn, general manager Rick Hahn can now focus solely on Rodon in terms of major pieces hitting the open market come November.