Lance Lynn Returns to Cardinals; Daniel Descalso added to coaching staff

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed free agent starting pitcher Lance Lynn to a one-year contract, worth $10 million. Lynn can earn an additional $3 million from incentives. The contract also includes a team option for 2025, worth $12 million or a $1 million buyout. Lynn, 36, was 13-11 with a 5.73 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 183.2 innings, 191 strikeouts, and 67 walks combined between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. 

Lynn has been an All-Star 2 times: (2012, and 2021). 

Lynn had his best season in 2019, with the Texas Rangers. That season, Lynn was 16-11 with a 3.67 ERA, 33 games, 33 starts, 208.1 innings, 246 strikeouts, and 59 walks. The innings and strikeouts were both career highs for Lynn. In 2012, with the Cardinals, Lynn had a career high in wins (18). 

Overall, Lynn has played 12 seasons in the MLB. Lynn is 136-95 with a 3.74 ERA, 341 games, 317 starts, 4 complete games, 2 shutouts, 4 holds, 1 save, 1,889 innings, 1,906 strikeouts, 660 walks, and a whip of 1.27. 

The Cardinals have also hired former Cardinals utility player Daniel Descalso as their new bench coach. Descalso, 37, played 5 seasons with the Cardinals (2010-2014). 

In 2011, Descalso helped the Cardinals win the World Series. Last season, Descalso was a baseball operations assistant for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Joe McEwing, 51, will move into the Cardinals front office as a special assistant to John Mozeliak. 

On paper Lynn looks like a good signing for the Cardinals. Lynn knows the Cardinals well and can eat innings. Lynn also isn't afraid to speak his mind if needed. I think that is something the Cardinals missed a bit last season. Sometimes in a clubhouse you need a player who isn't afraid to speak their mind to wake other players up a bit or light a fire under them. 

If the Cardinals actually upgrade the rest of their starting rotation with two other starters, the rotation should be fine. Right now, you have a solid 3 starters in Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, and Lynn. Now you just need an ace and a good no.2 if possible. Then you just need to upgrade the bullpen. 

Descalso should be an upgrade over McEwing for Marmol's staff. It seems to help other teams to have a player who has played recently on their staff. A lot of that is because they can help relate to other players.