Twins sign pitcher Lance Lynn into promising rotation
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With baseball's opening day only a couple weeks away, the Minnesota Twins made their 2018 season even more interesting, signing Lance Lynn, an intriguing, experienced starting pitcher.
Lynn, 30, spent six solid seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. The right-hander has a career 3.38 earned run average. He'll join pitchers Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson and Jake Odorizzi in the rotation.
The one-year deal is worth $12 million, according to a report on MLB.com
Staff ace Ervin Santana is expected to boost the rotation even more when he returns in late April or early May following finger surgery.
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According to the MLB report:
Lynn missed the 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but remained effective last season, posting a 3.43 ERA in 33 starts. He struck out 153, walked 78 and gave up 27 homers in 186 1/3 innings.
He posted career-worst walk and strikeout rates, but the Twins are hopeful that'll improve a year further removed from the surgery, as regaining command is often difficult in the first year back from the operation.
The addition of Lynn to the rotation moves the Twins' projected payroll to roughly $130 million, which is a club record.
Lynn is one of several relatively high-profile free agents signed by the Twins the past few months including reliever Addison Reed and slugging first baseman Logan Morrison.