fan favorite of the St. Louis Cardinals has decided to retire from baseball after 13 unforgettable seasons in the major leagues.
On Tuesday, the former right-handed pitcher for the Cardinals announced his retirement after not securing a new major league contract this offseason.
“Lance Lynn announced his retirement on his wife’s podcast,” Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Tuesday morning. “Good luck Lance!”
Before announcing his retirement, Lynn spoke about how the Los Angeles Dodgers’ extravagant spending has disrupted the free-agent market and affected his chances of signing a new deal, after the Cardinals opted not to exercise his 2025 club option.
Despite holding his own as a backend starter for the Cardinals last season, the team’s future plans didn’t include retaining an aging veteran like Lynn, as St. Louis is focusing on rebuilding and getting younger, making a 2025 return unlikely.
Over his 13-year career, which included stints with the Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Dodgers, Lynn posted a 143-99 record with a 3.74 ERA, a 2,006 1/3 inning total, and a 1.28 WHIP. His career also included a 2015-to-704 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .243 batting average against.
Although there were rumors that Lynn might transition to a bullpen role, multiple potential deals fell through, leading the 2011 World Series champion to step away from the game for good.
Lynn, a two-time All-Star, will always be remembered in St. Louis for his fierce and unwavering approach to pitching. The Cardinals’ passionate fan base embraced him, and he embodied the spirit of being both a student and lover of the game.
It’s fitting that Lynn spent his final season with the Cardinals, where he proudly achieved his 2,000th career strikeout in 2024.
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