Lance Lynn Re-Signs with Cardinals: Latest Contract Details and Reaction

The St. Louis Cardinals have a reputation for making astute moves, and they furthered it Thursday by re-signing starting pitcher Lance Lynn to a three-year contract.    

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the 27-year-old righty will earn an average of over $7 million per season:

In addition to avoiding arbitration this season, the Cards were able to buy out the remainder of Lynn's arbitration years with this new contract, per ESPN's Jim Bowden:

Lynn has been a key player for the Cards since becoming a full-time starter in 2012. He won 18 games that year and earned an All-Star nod. Since then, he has logged consecutive 15-win seasons, and his peripherals have improved as well.

He is coming off his best MLB campaign to date, as he went 15-10 with a career-best 2.74 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 2014.

Lynn was also effective in a pair of playoff outings for the Cardinals, so he certainly did enough to warrant a new contract.

While signing for only three years gives him an opportunity to hit free agency while still in his prime, this is a smart deal on St. Louis' part since Lynn will earn significantly less than most pitchers of his caliber.

The Cardinals have made the playoffs in four straight seasons, and this is the type of signing that will help them continue that streak moving forward.

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