FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Twins made another major upgrade to their rotation, agreeing to terms on Saturday with right-hander Lance Lynn on a one-year deal worth $12 million, a source confirmed to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi.The Twins, however, have not made an announcement, as the deal is pending a physical. Lynn, however, will be the fourth addition the Twins have made since arriving at camp, as they also traded for right-hander Jake Odorizzi on Feb. 17, signed right-hander Anibal Sanchez on Feb. 20 and inked designated hitter/first baseman Logan Morrison on Feb. 28.
It will move their projected payroll to roughly $130 million, which is a club record, and they'll lose the No. 95 overall selection in the third round of the Draft in 2018 because Lynn rejected the Cardinals' $17.4 million qualifying offer. Lynn, however, cannot be extended a qualifying offer for a second time.Lynn, 30, solidifies the rotation with his career 3.38 ERA in six seasons with the Cardinals, joining Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson and Odorizzi as the four-man rotation expected to open the season. It leaves veterans Phil Hughes and Sanchez battling for a long-relief spot, while Adalberto Mejia is likely headed for Triple-A Rochester. The rotation will get a further boost once Ervin Santana returns in late April or early May, after undergoing surgery on his right middle finger in early February.The veteran had been linked to the Twins for much of the winter and reportedly turned down a two-year, $20 million deal recently, according to a story this week from the St. Paul Pioneer Press.Lynn missed the 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but remained effective last season, posting a 3.43 ERA in 33 starts. He struck out 153, walked 78 and gave up 27 homers in 186 1/3 innings. He posted career-worst walk and strikeout rates, but the Twins are hopeful that'll improve a year further removed from the surgery, as regaining command is often difficult in the first year back from the operation.Outside of missing the 2016 season, Lynn was a workhorse for St. Louis, averaging 32 starts and 189 innings and a 3.39 ERA for five years from '12-'17. He's outpitched his peripheral stats throughout his career, as he has a career 3.64 FIP -- including a 4.82 FIP in '17 -- marks which are both higher than his 3.38 career ERA and 3.43 ERA last season.Lynn is also the seventh free agent signed by the Twins this offseason, joining Zach Duke, Addison Reed, Fernando Rodney, Michael Pineda, Sanchez and Morrison. They're aiming to make the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since 2009-10, after their surprise run to the AL Wild Card Game last season.Rhettollinger/ MLB.com
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