The St. Louis Cardinals are off to a strong start in 2025, winning three of their first four games and surging to the top of the National League Central.
Last year, they won 83 games on the heels of a 91-loss season in 2023, though they still missed the postseason. One key reason for the 12-win improvement was right-hander Lance Lynn, who went 7-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 23 starts.
The 37-year-old right-hander hit free agency and was not signed this past offseason. However, on Tuesday, the veteran starter made an announcement on his wife’s podcast.
“Baseball season is upon us and I’m right here on the couch,” Lynn joked. “And that is where I’m going to stay, so there’s the update. I’m officially retiring from baseball, right here right now.”
Lynn was the last active player from the Cardinals’ 2011 World Series championship team. The right-hander spent seven seasons with St. Louis, leaving after 2017 but returning for 2024.
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The veteran right-hander also made brief stops with the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers before coming back to St. Louis to finish his career.
Over the course of his 13-year career, Lynn won 143 games and posted a 3.74 ERA while also striking out 2,015 hitters over 2,006 1/3 innings pitched. He was also a two-time All-Star, earning his first nod in 2012 with St. Louis.
Lynn missed some time last season with knee issues, but was effective in his final year as a member of the Cardinals. He was a fan favorite in St. Louis despite not being a household name, but he often shined in the postseason, helping the Cardinals make October from 2011-15 and even helping them reach the World Series twice.
It was certainly a good run for Lynn. His best years came during his early years as a Cardinal.
We’ll see what comes next for the now-retired right-hander.
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