In some late breaking news, the Chicago White Sox have made a trade for RHP Lance Lynn, whom many saw as one of the top starting pitchers available on the trading market this offseason. Jeff Passan is first to report the news, as the White Sox traded Dane Dunning (MLB #98 Prospect) in the deal.
Right-hander Lance Lynn has been traded to the Chicago White Sox, sources tell ESPN. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 8, 2020
White Sox have been looking for a starting pitcher, and they are landing arguably the best on the trade market. They also had been discussing a Sonny Gray deal with the Reds but pivoted toward Lynn and finished it with Rangers for Dane Dunning and a prospect, sources tell ESPN. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 8, 2020
Quick Thoughts:
It seems as though the Lance Lynn-New York Yankees reunion will not be happening for the 2021 season. The Yankees originally took him as a piece to bolster the rotation at the 2018 Trade Deadline as a lottery arm having a bad season. While he wasn’t horrible in the pinstripes, the 4.14 ERA over 54.1 innings was not enough to bring the Yankees over the hump that season. He was then let go as a free agent and went to the Texas Rangers.
The Texas Rangers somehow turned him, at 32-years-old, into a near Cy Young candidate these past two seasons as he has ended up #5 and #6 in the AL over 2019 and 2020 respectively. However, I don’t know how much I buy into it being as good as it has been. While the past two seasons have been great, the remaining 7 years of average pitching seem to say it is a fluke.
With only one year left on his contract, he is a good option to pick up for a team that is vying to go “all-in”, which the White Sox seem to be signaling, especially with how they were willing to part with one of their better prospects in the deal. (The complete trade package has yet to be confirmed as of the time of writing this.) For the Yankee this would’ve likely meant one of Deivi Garcia or Clarke Schmidt would now be a Ranger had they traded for Lynn.
I think it is an appropriate risk for some teams, but I am happy the Yankees did not make this move. I think Clarke Schmidt could be good trade fodder in a bigger deal for a true superstar with more than a single All-Star game across a 9 year MLB career.
