Lynn solid in loss; what's next for righty?
T.R. Sullivan
@Sullivan_RangerARLINGTON -- Rangers pitcher Lance Lynn has a vision of what’s going to happen with him over the next 48 hours.
“I'm going to sleep a little bit, come in tomorrow and watch a game, then play some golf on Monday,” Lynn said. “I'll be all right.”
There is a possibility that his tee time may be disrupted, postponed or even canceled altogether. The Trade Deadline is at 3 p.m. CT on Monday and Lynn’s name is being prominently mentioned by any and every club looking to upgrade their starting pitching for the final month.
Lynn took his first loss of the season when the Dodgers pulled away to a 7-4 victory on Saturday at Globe Life Field. But he is still 4-1 with a 1.93 ERA after eight starts and clearly sought after on the trade market.
“Whatever happens in this game, that’s the business part of it,” Lynn said. “All I know is a year and a half ago, there was one team that wanted me for three years, and that’s the Rangers. I appreciate that. I enjoyed my time here. I would have liked to have won more but I enjoy the people around here.”
Lynn is in the second year of his three-year, $30 million deal. He is signed through next season and the Rangers are not eager to trade him. The possibility of Lynn coming back for next season as the leader of a young pitching staff still has strong appeal. Figuring out a way to keep him beyond next season is also a possibility the Rangers are willing to explore.
But Saturday’s loss to the Dodgers left the Rangers 12-20 on the season and any postseason hopes are fading away. General manager Jon Daniels has made it clear the Rangers are exploring all options and aren’t going to just ignore a significant offer for Lynn. Daniels has kept Lynn informed on what is going on beyond the public eye.
“I told him that I came here for a reason, and came here to get a job done,” Lynn said. “And I've yet to do it. So I don't want to leave something unfinished. But I also understand the business of baseball and I understand that if you can get prospects with high upside [then you do it]. I understand that. I'm not stupid. I am 33 years old. I've been around for a minute and I know how the game works.”
Lynn has been through this before. He was with the Twins in 2018 and was traded to the Yankees on July 30 in a Deadline deal.
“I respect JD as much as anyone in this game because he's not hiding behind any situation,” Lynn said. “He's making me aware of every possible situation that could be. And, but there's also, you know, some situations that might not be out in the public that we've been talking about, so hopefully, we'll see where it goes.”
That suggests the possibility the Rangers might want to address Lynn’s contract beyond next season. That could be on the table, but the next step is to see how much interest there really is in Lynn and what is being offered in return by Monday.
“If I was another team, I’d want him,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “I know that. He is one of the best pitchers in baseball and he has been really good this year, he was good last year. If I was a contending team, in first place and wanting to win the World Series, that would be the guy I would look for. I hope he stays with us.”
Lynn struggled early with high pitch counts on Saturday, but made it through six innings, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six. He threw 110 pitches and left trailing, 4-2. Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy hit a three-run home run off Taylor Hearn in the top of the seventh.