The Texas Rangers did not to trade Lance Lynn at the deadline, but why?
Another eventful MLB trade deadline has come and gone. The question of how teams would approach the critical juncture in a shortened season was answered by a heap of aggressive moves, most of them at the hands of the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.
A few frontrunners stayed unexpectedly quiet, as did a few dwellers. Though, the overwhelming shock from a boisterous day was the Texas Rangers‘ decision to keep starting pitcher Lance Lynn.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Lynn was the poster boy of trade rumors. The only names mentioned with more zest were Francisco Lindor and Trevor Bauer, but a deal involving either was considered far-fetched. A trade involving Lynn was thought to be a no-brainer.
The 33-year-old right-handed slinger carries a 1.93 ERA, which ranks fifth in MLB. His 51.1 innings pitched tops all starting pitchers, and he ranks in the top seven in MLB in strikeouts (56), WHIP (0.92), and opponent’s batting average (.165). He’s in a groove like never before, relentlessly attacking hitters with an unfathomable fastball-cutter combination capable of covering every part of the plate.
Lynn has one year remaining on his friendly three-year deal with the Texas Rangers. He’s owed just $8 million in 2021. He passes the eye test, the statistical test, and the contract test.
Therefore, Jon Daniels’ phone should have been bombarded with calls regarding Lance Lynn. That had to have been the case, as at least four teams reportedly expressed interest in him. The only explanation must be that the Rangers’ front office did not receive a satisfactory offer.
How stingy could they have been? After all, they’re 12-21, 9.5 games back in the AL West, and seven games behind the second-place Houston Astros – which is significant in a year where the top two teams from each division make the postseason.
Texas has been sloppy across the board. They’ve flexed players into unfamiliar positions, their offense has gaping holes, and their pitching staff has been spare beyond Lynn.
They’re enabling a youth movement, which contradicts the retainment of nine-year veteran Lance Lynn. Why hold onto an aging ace when the majority of the team is still getting their feet wet in the major leagues? Lynn possesses a spot in the rotation that could go to a developing starter. And consider the fact that the big leagues is the only source of development during a season deprived of minor league baseball.
Texas traded other veterans. They sent Mike Minor to the Oakland Athletics yesterday as well as Todd Frazier and Robinson Chirinos to the New York Mets. They were creating space for players of the future, but for some reason, Lynn was the cutoff.
Maybe there is a grand plan being pursued behind the scenes. Perhaps the Rangers intend on picking up Corey Kluber‘s 2021 option to reattempt their composition of a dominant one-two punch in the rotation. Shin-Soo Choo will be off the books next season, and maybe the owners invest more money to allow for an active offseason.
Maybe the Rangers find a way to move Rougned Odor and convince the oblivious team that acquires him to take on part of his crippling contract (one can only dream).
Surely, there is more below the surface. After today’s apparent Lance Lynn debacle, there better be.
For some perspective, the Cleveland Indians received six players in exchange for one of their top starters, Mike Clevinger. Clevinger is younger than Lynn, but he’s behind Lynn statistically, and he’s proven controversial within the clubhouse. Experts claimed the Clevinger trade set the bar for an eventual Lynn trade later in the day, but that did not happen.
The Texas Rangers could have used the prospect relief. Their minor league system shows promise, though it has a ways to go. Forgoing potentially four, five, perhaps six prospects yesterday afternoon may very well hurt their progress. They might have missed out on a player or two that could’ve helped them right away, also.
Jon Daniels was already on the hot seat. I’d say it’s now scorching. Texas needs to make sense of yesterday’s decision in a hurry.