MLB Rumors: Lance Lynn, Cubs Discussing Contract Ahead of 2025 MLB Season

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn could be joining the other side of the team's rivalry with the Chicago Cubs.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Thursday the Cubs have "entered negotiations" with the right-hander because they are looking for depth in their starting rotation.

Chicago could use another arm as either a spot-starter or longer option in the bullpen because Javier Assad is set to start the season on the injured list due to oblique concerns.

"I think Javi's on a good track," manager Craig Counsell told reporters Monday. "He's gonna start the year on the injured list. Got significant ramp up to go, but all signs are good."

The Cubs could rely on the combination of Colin Rea and Lynn as their fifth starter and swing options while Assad is sidelined. That could also open the door for the front office to have Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown start the year at Triple-A Iowa so they can pick up some valuable innings and keep their arms ready in the early portion of the season.

Teams can never have too much pitching, and Lynn would represent a proven arm for the North Siders even though he is 37 years old.

He has played for the Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers during a career that started in 2011. While he has bounced around to various teams of late, he was with St. Louis for the first six years of his career.

Lynn also returned to the Cardinals in 2024 and posted a 3.84 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 109 strikeouts in 117.1 innings. It was an impressive bounce-back effort after he finished with a 5.73 ERA in 2023 for the White Sox and Dodgers.

The Cubs would surely take a fifth or sixth option with a sub-4.00 ERA in their rotation as they look for more quality depth behind Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele.