The Cardinals signed Lynn to a one-year, $10 million contract with a $12 million club option for 2025 on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lynn could net as much as $13 million in 2024 if he hits his contract incentives, and there's a $1 million buyout on his 2025 option. It's a homecoming for the burly right-hander, as Lynn was drafted by the Cardinals and spent his first six major-league seasons in St. Louis. The 36-year-old finished the 2023 season with a 5.73 ERA over 32 starts and yielded a whopping 44 home runs, but he also had a 191:67 K:BB over 183.2 frames. The Cardinals will be hoping the home run ball becomes less of an issue at spacious Busch Stadium.

The Dodgers declined Lynn's $18 million option for 2024, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lynn will receive a $1 million buyout instead and is now a free agent. Ardaya notes that it's still possible the Dodgers wind up re-signing Lynn, but they would do so at a lower salary. The big right-hander posted a 5.73 ERA and 191:67 K:BB over 183.2 innings in 2023, serving up a league-high 44 home runs in the process. Lynn should still have a decent market this winter from clubs viewing him as a bounce-back candidate -- from 2019 through 2022, the 36-year-old delivered a 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10.01 K/9 over 571 innings.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Lynn is a "safe bet" to start Game 3 of the NLDS versus the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ryan Pepiot will also pitch, perhaps in a piggyback-type situation, but Lynn will take the hill first for the Dodgers. The burly right-hander was inconsistent for the Dodgers after coming over at the trade deadline but did finish with quality starts in three of his last four outings.

Lynn (bereavement list) threw four innings in a sim game Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Dave Roberts noted that the earliest Lynn could pitch in the NLDS against Arizona would be Game 3, but he didn't commit to using Lynn as a starter. Gavin Stone also threw a sim game Thursday, though Ryan Pepiot would be the likeliest candidate to take the ball if Lynn were passed over.

The Dodgers placed Lynn on the bereavement list Saturday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lynn will be held out for three-to-seven games as he tend to more important matters. Victor Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill Lynn's roster spot.

Lynn (13-11) allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out four over six innings to earn the win over the Giants on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Lynn struggled in the first inning and allowed an RBI single to Wilmer Flores, who also had a solo home run in the third. Those were the only two hits Lynn gave up as he earned his third quality start in five outings this month. He won three of his last four starts and closes the regular season with a 5.73 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 191:67 K:BB over 183.2 innings across 32 starts between the Dodgers and the White Sox. His ERA was a more reasonable 4.36 with Los Angeles, which should be enough to earn him a spot in the team's playoff rotation during the NLDS.

Lynn allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over six innings in a no-decision over the Giants on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

This was Lynn's third straight win, and his second quality start in his last five outings. He limited the damage to a two-run home run by LaMonte Wade in the fifth inning. Lynn is at a 5.83 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 187:63 K:BB through 177.2 innings over 31 starts between the Dodgers and the White Sox this year. He's projected for a road rematch with the Giants to finish his regular season, and he'll likely be in the Dodgers' postseason rotation.

Lynn (12-11) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings to earn the win over the Tigers on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Lynn gave up a three-run home run to Jake Rogers in the fifth inning, but that was the extent of the damage. While he's given up 10 homers over his last five starts, Lynn has won three of those outings. He's at a 5.92 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 181:60 K:BB through 171.2 innings over 30 starts between the Dodgers and the White Sox this season. The right-hander is projected to make his next start at home versus the Giants over the weekend.

Lynn (11-11) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three over seven innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Lynn threw 111 pitches (64 strikes) in a strong start, bouncing back from allowing 15 runs over nine innings across his previous two outings. He still gave up one home run, a solo shot to Fernando Tatis in the fifth inning, but the Dodgers were already firmly in control of the game. Lynn's allowed 41 homers this season, the most in the majors. He's at a 5.94 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 175:58 K:BB through 166.2 innings over 29 starts, though he's been marginally better with a 4.60 ERA over eight outings with the Dodgers. The veteran is projected for a favorable home start versus the Tigers early next week.

Lynn (10-11) took the loss Wednesday, coughing up eight runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and three walks over 4.2 innings as the Dodgers fell 11-4 to the Marlins. He struck out only one.

EDGE Analysis

After a run of four straight strong outings following his acquisition by Los Angeles, Lynn has reverted back to being the homer-prone disaster he was with the White Sox to begin the season. Over his last three starts, the veteran right-hander has been taken deep eight times in 15 innings, leaving him with a 4.95 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 28:11 K:BB through 40 frames as a Dodger. Lynn is also the first pitcher to get tagged for at least 40 homers in a season since Mike Leake in 2019, and at his current pace the major-league record of 50, set by Bert Blyleven in 1986, might even be within reach. The team could shuffle its rotation around in the absence of Julio Urias (administrative leave), but if Lynn stays on turn, his next start would come at home against the Padres early next week.