Cincinnati Reds: 5 blockbuster trades to consider this offseason

2. Lance Lynn could fill a hole in the Reds starting rotation.

Lance Lynn was surprisingly not moved at the trade deadline this past summer. The Texas Rangers finished dead-last in the American League West last season, and it stands to reason that the team may look to move Lynn this winter. If Trevor Bauer leaves via free agency, Lynn would be a cheap replacement with just one year left on his deal.

The former All-Star put up solid numbers in 2020. Lynn went 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 13 starts. His 89 strikeouts were equal to what Luis Castillo put up last year and his 1.060 WHIP was better than Reds starter Sonny Gray. Lynn is workhorse, who’s 87 innings pitched led the league last season.

Lance Lynn’s nine-year career has been littered with consistency. Outside of 2018, the right-handed has kept his ERA below 3.70 over the past six seasons. Tommy John surgery kept Lynn out of the St. Louis Cardinals rotation in 2016, but he returned the following year, going 11-8 and started a league-high 33 games.

Obviously, Reds Country would love for the Cincinnati front office to give Trevor Bauer an offer he can’t refuse, but I have to squint really hard to see that happening. With all the guaranteed contracts and upcoming raises due to the Reds arbitration-eligible players, I can’t see the Reds re-signing Bauer. Adding Lynn would be a nice consolation prize.