Cubs keeping two ex-Cardinals pitchers in mind.<\/p>\n
Lance Lynn pitching for the Cardinals<\/p>\n
The Cubs may still be considering veteran additions to their rotation. With many options available, they could look to familiar faces for pitching depth. Reports suggest the Cubs may be eyeing veterans Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn. The former NL Central duo would bring experience within the division, and both have had long careers with multiple All-Star appearances.<\/p>\n
As the Cubs prepare for a trip to Japan, they have explored the possibility of signing former Cardinals pitchers Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. According to Ken Rosenthal, “At the moment, the Cubs aren\u2019t in a position to promise Gibson or Lynn a spot in their rotation, much less guarantee that either pitcher would make the major-league club by a certain date.\u201d This suggests the Cubs have thoroughly researched the veteran pitching market and may be seeking a low-cost, depth option for the season without committing to anything major. I recently discussed the uncertainty around Chicago\u2019s rotation, and these signings could bring clarity or buy time for younger players like Ben Brown and Cade Horton to develop.<\/p>\n
Lance Lynn<\/p>\n
Last season, Lance Lynn had his best performance since 2021 with the Chicago White Sox. In 117 innings for the Cardinals, he posted a 3.84 ERA, 1.338 WHIP, and a 7-4 record. While these numbers aren’t exceptional, it\u2019s reasonable to think Lynn still has quality pitching left in him. The 37-year-old, thirteen-year veteran has pitched for four teams since 2022, struggling to reach his previous level. Initially drafted by the Cardinals in 2008, Lynn spent the first five and a half years of his career with St. Louis before joining the Twins. He returned to the Cardinals last offseason on an $11 million, one-year deal. St. Louis declined his 2025 option in late October.<\/p>\n
Kyle Gibson<\/p>\n
Kyle Gibson, also 37 and a twelve-year veteran, had a comparable season to Lynn’s last year with the Cardinals. He threw 169.2 innings, registering a 4.24 ERA and a 99 ERA+. In terms of metrics on Baseball Savant, he was mostly average to below average, with notable exceptions in extension (89th percentile), average exit velocity (68th percentile), and offspeed run value (77th percentile). Gibson signed a $13 million contract before the Cardinals also declined his 2025 club option.<\/p>\n
The Cubs aren\u2019t seeking ace-level performance from these former Cardinal teammates, but they could offer useful depth. Both are experienced veterans with extensive careers, and at worst, they could serve as reliable innings eaters to help the Cubs navigate the season and keep other pitchers fresh for the postseason. With 4,374 outs needed to complete a season, these veterans could play a key role in managing that load. They would likely sign for the league minimum, which is crucial since the Cubs have been reluctant to make significant investments this offseason.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cubs keeping two ex-Cardinals pitchers in mind. Lance Lynn pitching for the Cardinals The Cubs may still be considering veteran additions to their rotation. With many options available, they could look to familiar faces for pitching depth. Reports suggest the Cubs may be eyeing veterans Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn. The former NL Central duo […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[620],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-st-louis-cardinals"],"yoast_head":"\n