White Sox starter Lance Lynn left his final Spring Training start with what the team announced as right knee discomfort. During the fourth inning, Lynn looked to be in obvious pain after throwing a pitch, gingerly moving with a slight limp as he walked back to the dugout.
More will be known about Lynn’s status after he receives treatment and testing, though the issue could very well be related to the right knee injury that sidelined Lynn late last season. Lynn only spent the 10-day minimum on the injured list, but White Sox GM Rick Hahn said in November that Lynn underwent 3-4 weeks of rehab on his right knee once the season was over.
At first glance, it certainly looks as though Lynn’s readiness for the Opening Day roster could be in jeopardy. Losing Lynn for any amount of time would be a notable blow to Chicago’s rotation, particularly since the pitching staff as a whole already lost Garrett Crochet (to Tommy John surgery) and Craig Kimbrel (in a trade to the Dodgers) within the last 48 hours.
Swingmen Reynaldo Lopez and Vince Velasquez were involved in the bullpen picture, though at least one of the two hurlers will likely step into the rotation if Lynn’s injury requires an IL trip. Velasquez was signed to a one-year, $3MM deal in March to provide some added pitching depth, though surely the White Sox weren’t planning on having to utilize this depth quite so soon.
Lynn has finished in the top six of AL Cy Young voting in each of the past three seasons, and his third-place finish in 2021 was his highest placement yet. The right-hander’s first year in Chicago saw him post a 2.69 ERA, 27.5% strikeout rate, and 7.0% walk rate over 157 innings. 2021 was the last season of the three-year, $30MM deal Lynn signed with the Rangers during the 2018-19 offseason, but the White Sox moved to sign Lynn to a contract extension last July. Lynn is now set to receive $38MM in guaranteed money in 2022-23, and the Sox hold an $18MM club option his services for 2024.
Get well soon, Lance.
Go on a diet Lance.
Seriously, when has coming into to Spring Training in fat tub of goo shape ever been a good plan. FFS.
The fat tub of goo! Terry Forster had a .397 lifetime batting average.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=cFvpt0DpZaI
m.youtube.com/watch?v=uL20VgJ7JM8&pp=QAFIAQ%3…
Correct, a fat tub of goo with a .397 lifetime batting average.
Idk what the white sox are planning to do with Gavin Sheets or Andrew Vaughn but Padres have an OF need. White Sox could use some pitching depth it seems.
Gotta be a deal there with Sheets or Vaughn from the Sox and Pagan, Paddack, Weathers etc from the padres side as the players involved in some way shape or form.
Baseball trade values has Paddack at about a 17 and Gavin Sheets at an 11. So im sure there could be a deal to help both teams.
Whomever gets Vaughn will thank themselves later. He is a stud hitter.
Vaughn is not being traded or dangled by the White Sox. Jake Burger and Gavin Sheets are what we have that is available. We are looking for a 2B. We have pitching depth. I would rather roll out Dallas Keuchel than Chris Paddack.
Josh Harrison is your 2B, obviously
The Sox struggled terribly since the start of 2020 against right handed pitching. Sheets is one of the Sox only left handed hitters. They are not likely to trade him.
Vaughn to the As makes a lot of sense and the As were looking to move Montas and Manea. I see Vaughn as more of a 1b.
Speaking for the White Sox …. We ain’t interested in Chris Paddack. Not really interested in any of the other scraps that are left over from another round of A.J. Preller trading away the farm system in bad deals.
I wouldn’t hate a deal centered around Chris Paddack or Blake Snell if all we had to send them is like two of Gavin Sheets or Jake Burger and Andrew Dalquist, Micker Adolfo, or Blake Rutherford.
Now, if we could get Joe Musgrove off of them, I’d gladly part with some bigger pieces.
Word has it that he spoke on the phone with members of the Mets organization earlier today. This curse is now traveling through electronic devices.
Yep has nothing to do with him being a 35 year old and more prone to injuries
No Rodon. No Kimbrel. No Crochet. Now maybe no Lynn.
Yeah Lynn will hurt, bad. Great SP for them. Often forgotten when talking about the better pitchers in today’s game. It would’ve been so good if the Yanks were able to land this guy – could you imagine him on the… oh, wait, that’s right, we did have him! And what did we do with his sub-3 ERA arm? Oh, we sent him out the door, okay, mmm hmmm, that’s right.
@YC, if it will make you feel better (it won’t), he supposedly began making key changes during his brief time with the Yankees based on their data that he was able to fully incorporate the following season with the Rangers. 🙂
Kimbrel gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and 2 home runs his first game with the Dodgers. They got rid of him just in time. His value is tanking by the day
What did Pollock do? 0/2. Oh well.
It’s only one game and I hope that Pollock has a great season!
I’d rather have Pollock go 0-2 then have Kimbrel give up 4 runs.
LMAO ….. Never wanted any part of that guy on the White Sox even before he put on the Cub jersey.
Dylan Cease (Cy Young Award?), Lucas Giolito (Cy Young Award?) and Michael Kopech combined with the best bullpen in baseball!
We didn’t have Rodón most of past 2 years.
Kimbrel was awful with White Sox.
Crochet been hurt since he got here.
Lance Lynn will be fine!
What? A 35 year old, overweight pitcher who is likely to start regressing this year, I’m shocked.
So a knee injury means he’s on the decline? That’s not how that’s works.
It could be the start of a CC Sabathia-like knee period for Lynn.
@Tomahawk
Correct, it usually takes a ruptured Achilles. Followed immediately by rupturing the same Achilles. Soroka declining before his ascent even begins.
An injury does not in any way equal regression. Regression is when a player actually performs on the field worse than he had been playing. Can’t regress if you can’t play…
Injury is part of decline. Injury CAUSES decline and age (decline) makes injury more likely. Injury and decline are completely intertwined.
How do you know he is overweight?
Carrying around that fat wallet after the White Sox extended him last summer. Who didn’t know that wasn’t the best idea?
Lol.
Tacos,
Eye sight, vision, observation, etc.
Decline, age, & injuries often have a direct relationship – eventually, they will without a doubt. However, I don’t think these are so inextricably linked that it’s going to play out every time with older players; for example, in Lynn’s case, as one of the most durable pitchers in MLB, he’s arguably more durable than most & will rebound just fine. Conversely, Gehrig was also the most durable player of his epoch, until he wasn’t… so there’s that.
Nonetheless, Lynn is awesome, often overlooked in the conversation about the better SPs in the game, & would truly be a huge boost to the top of any rotation in MLB. I wish the Yanks kept him when they had him – dude is a workhorse.
Hi Lance thanks for joining us!
No problem, I figured with my knee injury I have a lot more time to come here and lost now. I’ll be back throwing sub-3 ERA ball while eating my fair share of cookies, cupcakes, & hamburgers.
Sincerely,
Your new bestie, L.L.
Regression and decline are not the same thing.
After the year he had doubt he’s regressing much. I can name a good amount of SP older then Lynn that are still Aces. Very similar build too Over weight Bartolo Colon who is still pitching at 48 years old. Lynn has also proved he’s a work horse and one of the most durable starting pitchers in baseball.
Ok Chiwhite: you say you can name a good number of similar pitchers – and you name ONE. Except for Colon, none have that ‘physique’.
No your not reading that right. I said I can name a good amount of SP older then Lynn that are still front line starters. People here are acting like he was in shape last season and now that he’s 35 years old he’s gonna decline. That’s foolish. He’s always been over weight and is coming off his best season. He’s been one of the most durable starters in baseball period. With his build he could easily pitch until he’s 40. Their is not reason to believe he can’t based on his history.
@whiteballs. Lynn has never pitched at 35 years AND also, out of shape.
Good luck with that. C C Sabathia all over again. But you have him for next year too. So maybe he’ll be in better shape in 2023. He can rehab this summer.
I’m only trading Vaughn if it’s for a controllable asset that benefits the Sox now and for the future. As soon as we start selling off assets the window shrinks and our minors prospects are trash
Cespedes and Colas would like a word with you.
Agreed Vaughn should not be traded unless it’s for a front line starter under control. I’d rather the White Sox explore trading Sheets and Burger and Throw in a decent prospect. They should be able to find a good mid rotation starter. Vaughn is gonna be one hell of a hitter and hopefully the White Sox view him as the future first baseman. I’d rather they trade any prospect they have then to see Vaughn go. They messed up trading Madrigal who also should of been a headliner for a front line starter. You would think after trading Chris Sale that they would see the value that prospects like Madrigal and Vaughn can bring to a team.
For Montas maybe?
Jake Burger is useless. He is nothing more than a throw in, in any trade. Same for Zack Collins- in case your going there next.
Based on what? Cubs would love to have burger as a prospect. Most people thought Kimbrel was useless and would get a bag of potatoes. Burger has no place on this team and will be traded and I can’t wait until your here in the comments when Hahn wins another trade
Unfortunately after he didn’t shine his debut season, his trade value took a slight hit… so he now likely has more value to Chicago staying than in any trade… if I were the white Sox, I wouldn’t move him regardless
saw highlights of the game on the MLB network, he is pretty fat for a major league pitcher, you would think in spring training he would be in better shape
He’s not fat, he’s big-boned!
Ever heard of Bartolo Colon? Also hasn’t Lance Lynn been one of the most durable SP in baseball the last few years? I’m pretty sure he’s always been over weight but maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me last season
Lynn is obese, out of shape. But he’s got the money now, baby. Uncle Jerry, thank you lol.
I agree thanks I’ll take Lynn over Stroman any day.
hes 35, fat with knee issues, maybe white sox fans should stop saying their team is ‘ just on the verge of competing’
Look, I’m not even a Sox fan, but you’re sounding a little whiny to me. That fat ass was one of the better pitchers in all of MLB last season. And we’ve buried the body before it’s even dead? Come on now, a little hyperbole. Meanwhile, I live in Chicago and there are no Sox fans saying they’re on the verge of competing – they’re saying they are on the verge of winning a World Series. And though I hate to admit it, with better injury luck, they can do it.
Mandy, Bartolo Colon would like a word with you……
We need an outfielder. Outfield must be the priority. They said. No. Starting pitching should be the priority. Add more pitching. We said.
This comment gave me a stroke.
WhiteSox just lost 3 pitchers in a blink of an eye. Amazing how fast a season can turn before it even begins. Get well Lance he’s a stud
Seems like a lot of injuries in MLB already.
This was to be expected with the shortened spring training. Similar to the 2020 season
I think I missed him on my all time fat team :).
Put him on the IL and let him heal. Hopefully it doesn’t require surgery. If not treated properly now, this could linger the entire season for him. Thankfully, the White Sox play in the AL Central so they can afford to lose Lynn for 2-3 starts and not worry about falling too far behind in the division.
He just came off a long IL stint called the off-season. considering his knee was the problem at the end of last season and in the playoffs and it’s now bothering him again in spring training says something.
It’s bothered him for two years. Why hasn’t it been fixed already? We should have kept Dunning and we should have signed Rodon.
I think he’s already past that. This is more than likely the same knee issue he pitched through for a part of last year. That jomboy break down where he was ejected for not getting sticky stuff checked right away. His knee was bothering him then
Dorothy, what you are overlooking is what Hahn said. Hahn said that Lynn was rehabbing for 3 to 4 weeks in November. Imagine that, Lynn rehabbed for THAT long.
I imagine the rest of the offseason he probably went on a Caribbean cruise.
Injuries: Off
Does this mean that it will be Braves/Blue Jays now instead of Braves/White Sox?
Phillies–Blue Jays. Phils turn the tables from 1993, even if it means I have to root against my grandson’s favorite team.
Knee issues are never good, especially not in a player of Lynn’s size.
Definitely a blow for the CHISOX last year was the best of Lynn’s career
Damn, calm down people. The seasons just getting ready to start. No need to panic.
For sure ironhead. No need to worry. You got ol Dallas Keuchel and his beloved Kelly Nash up in the bullpen. Lol. Not only are they a great match, but a great match for your team.
Dallas Keuchel, Michael Kopech, what could go wrong.
Time to panic and trade Andrew Vaughn to the Cubs for Alec Mills. That’s about par for the course with the White Sox, right? Trading Marcus Semien to the A’s for Jeff Samardzija, trading Fernando Tatis, Jr, for James Shields, then trading Nick Madrigal for Craiig Kimbrel…. and yet Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn still have jobs….
Did you miss all the other trades Hahn made? It appears so.
Yeah, he forgot Frankie Montas for Todd Frazier
I’ll still take the White Sox and their young roster over every team in baseball.
Chris Bassitt was part of the Semien trade.
Mickey Mantle to Lynn: “You don’t need a knee to play. I hit .298 with 536 homers, played CF, won a triple crown, & did most of that getting drunk every night…all with no knee.”
Miguel Cabrera says “Hold my Scotch.”
He has a knee though…. But yeah, great player, great career. He will get to 3,000 hits, not so sure about 500 HRs though.
Cabrera already has 500 HR and is 13 hits shy of 3,000 hits.
Yeah, for some reason I thought he was 21 HRs short. Then I realized that I was actually mixing him up with Pujols & his quest for 700. I was tired…my apologies.
But, he will get 3,000 & he’s an obvious first-ballot HOF guy. Don’t know if he will reach 536, but it’s definitely within his reach.
Glad they finally recognized Lou also – he was awesome to watch when I was a little kid. One of my favorite non-Yankees. (Lou, Alan, & Jack Morris).
The Mick had to tape both legs and knees before a game.
Lance Lynn is overweight! The White Sox’s trainers to nutritionists need to tell Lynn to start laying off the read meat and focus on lean protein to lose weight then start doing some core work so he doesn’t have knee to quad issues.
Beyond burgers!
Him and Jake Burger can dine together.
Apologies accepted here.
2 weeks ago in the Oakland wants to trade Manaea/Montas thread I suggested trading Vaughn for Manaea or package with Montas. You guys kicked me in the groinage area. Now you want to run Vaughn out of town for the same. I feel vindicated+.
Mr. Hahn,
I only wanted to be Assistant GM. Now I want your job!! Have my corner office ready by opening day. You have 2 weeks notice.
McRat
Sheets, Burger and Lopez for Montas and Manea ?????? what you think ???
I think you better go back to bed…….unless you’re a Sox fan—in that case you are still tucked away—-dreaming.
Are you throwing in a couple of spare Achilles tendons with Burger? That fat tub is a cheeseburger away from tearing one again.
Colas + Cespedes *might* start the conversation.
hahaha. Colas + Cespedes to start the Convo. Get real.
Would you do that trade if you were the A’s??? hell no
And tell me please, where on defense do you hide Burger?
If you can hit usually a team will find a way to get you in the lineup. Burger can hit. Their will be a team asking for him at some point. 2021 he had a .274 BA and hit 18 HR in AAA. He also was solid when he got called up. If he’s even better this year and stays healthy the Sox will get a nice piece back In return to improve the team. Can’t wait to hear from you then.
Manaea just went to the Padres….you can definitely wake up now and get back to reality.
No way the Sox are trading Vaughn or Sheets for rental pitchers.
Pitchers are at a premium, its going to take a overpay to get anyone decent
He better get that knee right or it will cause other problems
His cardio may well suffer.
Lance Lynn eats baked chicken wings instead of fried chicken wings.
Meanwhile…S.D just traded for Minaea…
“Paging Mr.Hahn”…