LA Dodgers Make Big Decision On Lance Lynn's Future

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired 12-year veteran hurler Lance Lynn at the trade deadline to help bolster their depleted starting rotation. And while he went 7-2 with a 4.36 ERA, they've now decided not to pick up their $18M option on the right-hander, sending him into free agency.

The Dodgers have declined Lance Lynn's $18M club option for 2024, per @FabianArdaya pic.twitter.com/aHFPOgSWTq

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) November 3, 2023

As noted, however, by Dodgers beat writer Fabian Ardaya, this doesn't mean that they can't still try to bring him back next season on a more team-friendly deal. LA will certainly be busy in the free agent market looking for starters. 

The team's rotation is in tatters, with Julio Urias not coming back (due to free agency and domestic violence issues), Dustin May out until mid-season, Tony Gonsolin coming back from injury, Walker Buehler trying to come back from his second Tommy John surgery and an elbow injury, and Clayton Kershaw is once again a free agent (in addition to just undergoing shoulder surgery which would keep him out for the start of 2024 even if he does return). 

Overall, Lynn finished his age-36 season with a 5.73 ERA (after a dreadful first half with the Chicago White Sox). He was an All-Star, however, as recently as 2021, with a 2.63 ERA, and posted a reasonable 3.99 ERA in 2022 in the Windy City. 

Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK