Due to their recent wave of injuries, the New York Yankees seem like a clear candidate to add a starting pitcher late in Spring Training. However, Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer believes it’ll be the Chicago Cubs who make a move for a starter just ahead of Opening Day.
On March 12, Rymer predicted that the Cubs could pursue Lance Lynn, the former All-Star pitcher from the St. Louis Cardinals.
He connected Lynn to Chicago based on a report by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney, which stated the Cubs have shown interest in signing him.
Here’s a paraphrased version of that passage:
Rosenthal and Mooney reported that “the Cubs are keeping an eye on [Kyle] Gibson and [Lance] Lynn as potential options if any issues come up following the team’s early spring training workload and lengthy trip to Japan.”
Lynn, who will turn 38 in May, was last selected as an MLB All-Star in 2021 while playing for the Chicago White Sox. He also received an All-Star nod back in 2012 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
In his return to St. Louis last season—his first since 2017—Lynn recorded a 7-4 win-loss record along with a 3.84 ERA. He also posted a 1.338 WHIP and tallied 109 strikeouts over 117.1 innings pitched.
Cubs Rotation Depth to Begin 2025 MLB Season
Rosenthal and Mooney noted that a “sudden wave” of injuries to starting pitchers around the league could give veteran arms like Lance Lynn more negotiating power. Interestingly, though, the Cubs aren’t currently among the National League teams dealing with rotation injuries.
That’s more the case for the New York Mets, who are set to open the season without Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea. In the American League, the Yankees, Orioles, and Mariners have all recently suffered notable injuries to their starting staffs.
Despite staying relatively healthy, Rosenthal and Mooney reported that the Cubs are still “looking for potential rotation reinforcements.” They added that the team’s search “could intensify” if the rotation struggles during its opening series.
The Cubs are scheduled to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.
Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele are expected to start those two games for Chicago.
When the Cubs return stateside and resume their regular-season schedule, Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon will join Imanaga and Steele in the rotation.
Colin Rea is likely to round out the starting five to begin the year, while Javier Assad—another rotation option—is expected to start the season on the injured list.
Cubs Targeting SP Lance Lynn?
With those five starters in place, there doesn’t seem to be an obvious spot for Lance Lynn in the Cubs’ rotation. However, if the veteran isn’t drawing interest from other clubs, he might be open to joining Chicago if they decide to pursue him.
The Cubs could view Lynn as a potential spot starter or long reliever. At 38, he’s no longer in All-Star form, but he remains a dependable veteran who could provide valuable depth for a contending team, especially if injuries crop up.
Lynn struggled with giving up home runs during the 2023 season while pitching for both the White Sox and Dodgers, which contributed to his 5.73 ERA that year.
However, he bounced back in 2024, cutting his home run rate to just 1.2 per nine innings.
Throughout his 13-year MLB career, Lynn has suited up for the Cardinals, White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Twins, and Rangers.
In 217 appearances, he’s compiled a 143-99 record with a 3.74 ERA, and he has started 340 games in total.
