Washington Nationals: Lance Lynn is the ideal fit to round out rotation
Lance Lynn is the affordable, perfect fit to round out the starting rotation for the Washington Nationals.
MLB free agency finally heated up this week. Most of the big name free agents are now spoken for. Mike Moustakas has escalated to the top available bat, while a number of notable starting pitchers remain available. Jake Arrieta remains the headliner in the starting pitching market; however, Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn are noteworthy as well.
Arrieta can’t seem to convince his suitors that he is worthy of a long-term contract. Cobb has a history of injuries that is causing teams to hesitate. But Lance Lynn, there is no reason he should still be available.
Lance Lynn fits a need for many teams. He is the perfect signing for any team that is searching for a middle-to-back-end starter for their rotation. Lynn is sturdy, reliable, consistent, and effective. He has spent the last seven years pitching for contending St. Louis Cardinals teams. He’s a guy that can grind through the regular season and maintain his effectiveness into the postseason.
So, which of the 30 MLB squads is in position to contend and is in need of a backend starting pitcher?
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There are a few that qualify, yet, the one that stands out is the Washington Nationals. The Nationals current rotation consists of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Tanner Roark, and (fill name here).
Joe Ross will be sidelined extensively due to Tommy John Surgery. Washington doesn’t have any major league ready starting pitching prospects. That leaves 26-year-old A.J. Cole as the leading candidate for the final rotation spot entering spring training. Cole could fill the void, but not nearly as productively as Lance Lynn.
If the Washington Nationals want to avoid a significant drop off from the fourth rotation spot to the fifth, then they need to sign Lynn. Lynn would give the Nationals the deepest rotation in the National League.
He makes for a tough at-bat for opposing hitters. The 30-year-old held opponents to a .223 batting average and a slugging percentage below .400. He does not give in easily, and he is not a pitcher that needs to be continuously monitored by the coaching staff.
Next: Would the Nats trade Victor Robles for Chris Archer?
The Nats would probably prefer a left-handed starter to balance out the rotation, but that is no reason to sacrifice a quality right-hander such as Lance Lynn. Perhaps a three-year deal at $12 million per year would do the trick? We’ll leave it to the pertinent parties to discuss the contract details. Regardless, Lance Lynn is a great fit for the Washington Nationals. Washington should at the very least offer him.