It’s been known since June that the White Sox have been preparing to trade any player that is headed toward free agency following the 2023 season as this year has become a disaster on the south side of Chicago. Among those players is 36-year-old starting pitcher Lance Lynn. However, according to a recent report, a trade could get complicated for the White Sox because Lynn has a 10-team no-trade list in his contract.

Lynn, who signed an extension with the White Sox during the 2021 season, has been brutal so far in 2023. Yet, that hasn’t stopped some teams from giving Rick Hahn a call about the veteran pitcher. But some calls might have to be forwarded to Lynn and his agent because 1/3 of the league is on his no-trade list.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal wrote about the latest he’s hearing as we’re a week away from the MLB trade deadline.

Via The Athletic.

Players often use no-trade protection as leverage, and Lynn in theory could require a team on the list to exercise his $18.5 million club option for next season. Few clubs, if any, would do that for a struggling 36-year-old pitcher. The more likely scenario, if the White Sox reached agreement with a team Lynn would rather not play for next season, is that he would ask the team to decline the option, ensuring he becomes a free agent.

In any case, it’s doubtful Lynn would drive too hard a bargain. At this point, a number of White Sox veterans are just looking for a get-out-of-jail-free card. And Lynn, who has pitched only once in the postseason since 2015, his last year with the Cardinals, surely wants to return to the October stage.

Lynn will be owed slightly more than $6 million at the deadline, and the White Sox might need to include significant cash in the deal to secure a solid return. Escaping the White Sox’s losing culture might help him. Moving to a more pitcher-friendly park might help him. Some pitching-savvy team likely will want to get its hands on Lynn, thinking he is not finished yet.

Lance Lynn 10-Team No-Trade List

Here are the 10 teams that Lynn can block a trade to according to Ken Rosenthal.

Seattle Mariners
San Diego Padres 
San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Angels
St. Louis Cardinals
Toronto Blue Jays
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays

Some interesting name on that list, but the way it turned out this season only one is clearly out of contention and that’s the St. Louis Cardinals. Lynn’s first MLB team started Monday 11 games back in the NL Central Division and 10 games back in the Wild Card standings.

However, just because a team is on a no-trade list, doesn’t mean it’s an automatic no. According to Rosenthal, Lynn would waive his limited no-trade clause in some situations to play for a contender.

As for Lynn’s no-trade list, like any no-trade list, it is not absolute. According to sources briefed on the pitcher’s thinking, he would waive his protection for certain contenders.

I mean yeah, I’m sure a lot of White Sox players would prefer to play for a contender as soon as possible and get out of a terrible situation. Just ask Lucas Giolito.

Lance Lynn Trade Rumors

Earlier this month, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote about the Tampa Bay Rays showing interest in Lynn, having already had conversations about the right-handed pitcher with the White Sox.

Via USA Today.

The Tampa Bay Rays believe this is the best team in franchise but have played only .500 ball for the past month, privately say they will be aggressive at the trade deadline to acquire another starting pitcher and perhaps a bat. 

They have engaged in trade talks with the White Sox about veteran Lance Lynn, whose strikeout rate is an impressive 11.1 per nine innings, but the White Sox’s asking price remains steep

Nightengale has also reported this month that the Texas Rangers, who traded Lynn to the White Sox after the 2020 season, have strong interest in bringing him back in a deal before the Aug. 1, trade deadline.

According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the Cincinnati Reds are interested in making a deal with the White Sox, as the NL Central team is desperate for starting pitching at the deadline.