Rays, White Sox In "Serious Talks" on Trade For Pitcher

The trade deadline is less than a week away, and talks are ramping up as contenders look to add, most especially, pitching. The Tampa Bay Rays are reported to be in "serious talks" with the Chicago White Sox for veteran starter Lance Lynn.

The Tampa Bay #Rays are engaged in serious talks with the Chicago #Whitesox for veteran starter Lance Lynn. The two sides have already exchanged names.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 26, 2023

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the Rays are actually one of 10 teams on Lynn’s no-trade list but that he has informed the White Sox he would waive it to head to the AL East contenders.

The 36-year-old is not having his best season (an understatement), as he has a 6.18 ERA and has surrendered more home runs (28) than any other pitcher in baseball. But the Rays obviously feel that they can get him back to his 2021 All-Star form which saw the pitcher finish 3rd in Cy Young balloting with a 2.69 ERA. Lynn has a career 3.69 ERA with 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings. He is whiffing a career-high 10.9 batters per nine innings this season.

The Rays have suffered numerous devastating injuries to their starting rotation this season, including season-ending surgeries for Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs, while top prospect Shane Baz hasn't pitched at all due to Tommy John surgery.

This could be just one move for the Rays to bolster their pitching, if they're able to pull it off.

Photo: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports