7. Lance Lynn, starting pitcher, Chicago White Sox/Los Angeles Dodgers (after trade)
Lynn’s name has been a hot one these last few weeks for his value on the trade market. He’s a veteran presence who is widely perceived as having the ability to help a contender, which the White Sox most definitely are not.
Lynn is in the final season of a two-year, 38 million deal he signed prior to the start of 2022. That contract will pay him $18.5 million to pitch for a team that was expected to win the AL Central, but which is lingering in fourth place in the division as August looms.
He’s 6-9 with a 6.47 ERA in 21 starts. The good news about Lynn is those 21 starts. Many pitchers on this list qualify due to lack of availability, but Lynn qualifies for the opposite reason. He’s given up league-highs in hits (130), earned runs (86) and home runs (28).
With those numbers at age 36, the question may be asked whether Lynn still has his stuff. In the next week or so, some acquiring team may get the chance to find out.
For the present, Lynn’s performance – and especially his -1.2 WAR — justifies Lynn having paid the White Sox $11.694 million to pitch for them rather than the other way around. Combine that with his $18.5 million salary and the conclusion is that in 2023 Lynn is overpaid in the amount of $30.194 million.