Veteran right-hander Lance Lynn announced his retirement from professional baseball on his wife's podcast on Tuesday, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Lynn was hoping to continue his playing career in 2025 and was even reportedly discussing a deal with the Chicago Cubs, but apparently nothing has come to fruition and he will instead hang up his cleats after 13 years in the big leagues. The 37-year-old was originally drafted in the first round (39th overall) in 2008 out of the University of Mississippi. Seven of his 13 MLB campaigns came in St. Louis, including his last in 2024 in which he went 7-4 with a 3.84 ERA (4.31 FIP) and 1.34 WHIP with 109 strikeouts and 44 walks in 117 1/3 innings over 23 starts. The two-time All-Star will finish his major-league career with a 143-99 record, 3.74 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 23.7% strikeout rate in 2,006 1/3 regular-season innings. He won a World Series ring with St. Louis in 2011.

The Chicago Cubs have entered into contract negotiations with veteran free-agent right-hander Lance Lynn on a one-year, big-league contract, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale. The Cubs are looking for rotation depth, and Lynn has plenty of experience in the National League Central, having pitched seven seasons with the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. The 37-year-old veteran went 7-4 a year ago with a 3.84 ERA (4.31 FIP), a 1.34 WHIP, 109 strikeouts and 44 walks in 117 1/3 innings over 23 starts for the Red Birds. Unsurprisingly at this point in his career, Lynn has missed large chunks of time over the last several seasons, including in 2024 due to a knee injury. Even though his ERA was under 4.00, his xERA of 4.93 told a different story, and Father Time is surely catching up with him. If Lynn lands in Chicago and ends up in the rotation at some point, he'll be a low-upside DFS streamer.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports that free-agent right-hander and long-time starter Lance Lynn is getting looks on the open market this offseason as a potential ninth-inning arm, according to his agent Kevin Lustig. The 37-year-old has not pitched out the bullpen since 2018. Lynn said he's "intrigued" about being a closer. Several teams, including the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels, are still searching for late-inning help. Lynn made five relief appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals as a rookie in the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers. The free-agent market remains crowded with starting arms, so it may make sense for Lynn to market himself as a potential reliever, especially after he pitched just twice after July 30 last year due to knee inflammation. After dropping around 20 pounds this offseason, Lynn would have more fantasy appeal closing out games.

Free-agent veteran right-hander Lance Lynn said that he has lost 20 pounds already since the end of last season, dropping from 280 to 260 pounds. Lynn battled knee issues in 2024 and was limited to 117 1/3 innings, his lowest total over a full season since missing all of 2016 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 37-year-old became a free agent when the St. Louis Cardinals declined his $12 million club option for 2025. He's nearing the end of his career, but Lynn ranks sixth in the majors with 2,006 1/3 innings pitched since debuting in 2011. The last time Lynn reached 30 starts and 200 innings was back in 2019, so fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting a sudden breakout for the veteran hurler. Knee issues dating back to 2021 and a lack of strikeout stuff will make Lynn an easy pitcher to avoid in shallow mixed fantasy leagues, regardless of where he's pitching.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitchers Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn had their club options declined and will be headed to free agency. Gibson logged 169 1/3 innings in his debut season in St. Louis with a 8-8 record, 4.24 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 68:151 BB:K ratio. Lynn posted a 3.84 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP with a 7-4 record across 117 1/3 innings last season. Both remained in the starting rotation the entire season. In the same move, the Cardinals also declined the 2025 club option for pitcher Kenyan Middleton. Middleton logged only five innings in the minor leagues this season due to a forearm injury. This transaction allows the Cardinals to trim substantial payroll off of their pitching staff. Currently, the Cardinals rotation consists of Miles Mikolas, Erick Fedde, Sonny Gray, Andre Pallante, and Michael McGreevy.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (knee) was placed on the 15-day IL earlier on Wednesday due to right knee inflation and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2024 season. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals promoted their No.10 ranked prospect, Michael McGreevy, from Triple-A Memphis. Through his first season in St. Louis, the 37-year-old held a 3.84 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP with a 44:109 BB:K ratio. After struggling through the first half of the summer with a 4.96 ERA, Lynn settled down in the second half with a much-improved 1.29 ERA. McGreevy made one appearance in the big leagues earlier this summer, back in July, where he tossed seven innings of one-run ball. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to how McGreevy performs over the final week of the season as he could contend for a spot in the rotation next spring.

St. Louis Cardinals veteran right-hander Lance Lynn (knee) will come off the 15-day injured list to start for the Cardinals next Wednesday at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Lynn will return to the big leagues for the final couple weeks of the 2024 regular season and will be in play as a deep-league streamer with limited upside for several start to finish out September. He was able to get up to 80 pitches in a minor-league rehab start last Sunday in which he allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. Lynn should be limited from a pitch-count perspective, but he just doesn't offer much upside at all at this point of his career and hasn't pitched for St. Louis since the end of July. On the flip side, Lynn has been great in his two starts against Cincy in 2024, allowing only three runs (one earned) on seven hits while walking four and striking out 11 in 12 innings pitched.

St. Louis Cardinals veteran right-hander Lance Lynn (knee) had a tough time in his latest minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, giving up five earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Lynn threw 54 of his 80 pitches for strikes and should be able to return to St. Louis' starting rotation soon after being out since late July with inflammation in his right knee. However, there's also a chance that Lynn will be required to make one more rehab start after surrendering five runs on Sunday. When the 37-year-old does return to the big-league rotation, he'll be a low-upside arm for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to close out the season. The former first-rounder in 2008 out of Mississippi has a weak 20.8% strikeout rate and an ERA above 4.00 in 21 starts covering 106 1/3 innings in 2024.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn (knee) is scheduled to make a minor-league rehab start on Sunday for Triple-A Memphis. It means that Lynn got through another successful live batting practice session on Monday in which he was scheduled to throw around 75 pitches. The veteran 37-year-old will throw around 80 to 85 pitches on Sunday, after which he should be able to come off the 15-day injured to rejoin St. Louis' starting rotation for the stretch run. Lynn hasn't pitched for the Cards since July 30 due to right-knee inflammation. He threw his first live BP of around 45 pitches on Aug. 20 and has bounced back nicely since receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection. At best, Lynn is a matchup-based streamer in deeper fantasy leagues with his 20.8% strikeout rate. He'll return to a 4.06 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 97:41 K:BB in 106 1/3 innings.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (knee) will throw a second bullpen session on Friday at Busch Stadium. How the 37-year-old veteran right-hander's body responds following that session will dictate when he pitches next for the Cardinals, manager Oliver Marmol said. Lynn threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Monday and a flat-ground session ahead of Tuesday's game in Cincinnati against the Reds. He's been on the 15-day injured list since July 31 with inflammation in his right knee, having gone 6-4 with a 4.06 ERA over 21 starts and allowing only five home runs in 106 1/3 innings after being plagued by the long ball in 2023 while pitching for the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. Barring any setbacks, Lynn should be back to help St. Louis' rotation without needing a minor-league rehab start at some point next week.

St. Louis Cardinals veteran right-hander Lance Lynn (knee) said on Foul Territory that he's planning to throw a bullpen session on Monday and that he hopes to be back on the mound for the Cardinals as soon as possible. We should have a better idea of when Lynn might be able to come off the 15-day injured list after he throws his bullpen, but barring a setback from right-knee inflammation, the 37-year-old could be back within the next one or two times through St. Louis' rotation. The 13-year-old MLB veteran offers little upside for fantasy managers these days with a 20.8% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate through his 21 starts (106 1/3 innings pitched). Lynn has gone 6-4 this year with a 4.06 ERA (4.46 FIP) and 1.36 WHIP with a 97:41 K:BB.

The imaging done on St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn's (knee) inflamed right knee showed no structural damage according to manager Oli Marmol. Lynn got an injection to help with the inflammation, and the Cardinals will let it sit for a couple of days before re-evaluating him. Lynn was placed on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right knee on Wednesday, and Marmol said that the club is confident that rest, and not surgery, will help to ease the inflammation in the hurler's right knee. The 37-year-old veteran right-hander's injury means that Andre Pallante will remain in the starting rotation for now, but fantasy managers should keep tabs on how St. Louis chooses to use No. 15 prospect Michael McGreevy going forward, who limited the defending-champion Rangers to one run on five hits and one walk over seven innings in his major-league debut on Wednesday.

The St. Louis Cardinals placed right-hander Lance Lynn (knee) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with right-knee inflammation and recalled right-hander Ryan Loutos from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. The Cards also optioned right-hander Chris Roycroft to Memphis and designated right-hander Jacob Bosiokovic for assignment. Lynn looked fine while giving up just one run in a win over five innings over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, but the 37-year-old is now going to miss at least the next two weeks. Hopefully, Lynn will come off the IL when he's eligible in mid-August. With Lynn hurt, new trade acquisition Erick Fedde will take his spot in the starting rotation. While Lynn lacks strikeout upside, he's been serviceable as a streamer in 2024 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP while striking out 97 and walking 41 in 106 1/3 innings over his 21 starts.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn hit a career milestone in his Tuesday start in a 2-1 win over the Pirates. Lynn pitched five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Those strikeouts brought the 37-year-old's career total to exactly 2,000 over his 13-season career. The veteran has gotten improved results after an unusually poor 2023 season and is now 5-4 with a 4.17 ERA, an 8.35 K/9 rate, and a 3.55 BB/9 rate in 20 starts and 101 1/3 IP. He may not provide as much fantasy value as he did earlier in his career, but Lynn still offers a useful floor when he is on. His next matchup will be a decent one against a scuffling Rangers lineup.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn turned in another nice start but took the loss in Monday's 3-1 game against the Reds. Lynn pitched six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits (including a solo home run) and three walks with five strikeouts. The 37-year-old veteran has had a nice bounce-back season after a poor 2023, going 2-3 with a 3.45 ERA, an 8.32 K/9 rate, a 3.61 BB/9 rate, and a 1.10 HR/9 rate in 10 starts and 51 1/3 IP. His next matchup will be a tough one at the Phillies. While Lynn has pitched better this season, fantasy managers may want to avoid starting him later in the week if they can afford to.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn is looking to build on a strong start to this season when he takes on the visiting Miami Marlins on Thursday. The veteran tossed four scoreless innings with just one walk against five strikeouts in his return to St. Louis against the Dodgers on March 30, an encouraging sign after he struggled in the 2023 season. Lynn limped to a 5.73 ERA across 32 starts between the Chicago White Sox and the Dodgers in the 2023 campaign, the first season in which he posted an ERA above 5.00. He is a strong bounce-back candidate as he had posted four straight seasons with an ERA of 4.00 or below while he will look to get deeper into the ball game on Thursday.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn has been in a slow progression in camp as a matter of personal preference, but he will make his Grapefruit League debut on Friday against the Washington Nationals. Lynn expressed his desire to ramp up on the back fields over the first week of spring games, a practice common throughout baseball. Despite not appearing in any games yet, he's not considered "behind" the team's other starters and is on the same throwing schedule. The 36-year-old veteran isn't going to be on any fantasy radars in mixed leagues after he had the worst season of his career in 2023 with the White Sox and Dodgers, posting a rough 5.73 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 183 2/3 innings while giving up 44 long balls. Lynn could improve with St. Louis this year, but there's virtually no upside here.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn is lined up to make his Grapefruit League debut Friday versus the Washington Nationals. Lynn began his career in St. Louis and will be sporting the Cardinals uniform for the first time since 2017 after signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the team during the offseason. The 36-year-old owned a 5.73 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and a 191:67 K: BB over 183 2/3 innings in 2023. He allowed a league-high 44 home runs and saw his BB% rise from 3.7% in 2022 to 8.4% in 2023. Lynn currently has an NFBC ADP of 297 and should improve on his lackluster 2023, throwing half his games at pitcher-friendly Busch Stadium this season, making him a solid pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.

The St. Louis Cardinals and free-agent pitcher Lance Lynn have agreed to a one-year deal that will bring the veteran back to where his career began. Lynn had an $18 million club option declined by the Dodgers two weeks ago but will earn around $10 million for the 2024 season, while his new deal comes with an unspecified club option for the 2025 campaign. It was a struggle for Lynn in 2023, as the 36-year-old limped to a 5.73 ERA across 32 starts between the Dodgers and White Sox. However, he did improve with a trade-deadline move to L.A., where he worked to a 4.36 ERA in 11 outings on the west coast while his season-long 4.33 SIERA suggests he was better than his surface ERA implies. He is likely one of numerous free-agent pitchers added by the Cardinals this winter.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will decline right-hander Lance Lynn's $18 million club option for the 2024 season, according to a source. The Dodgers choose to let one of their veteran starters under club control hit the open market this offseason. The 36-year-old will receive a $1 million buyout. It's possible the Dodgers will try to re-sign Lynn on the cheap, but it's not a big surprise the Dodgers chose not to pick up Lynn's option after he pitched to a combined 5.73 ERA (5.53 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 67 walks and 191 strikeouts in 32 starts (183 2/3 innings) for the Blue and Chicago White Sox in 2023. Lynn isn't going to blow hitters away with velocity and he also surrendered a league-high 44 home runs this year. Lynn will give interested teams a veteran innings-eater for the back end of a starting rotation in 2024.