LAS VEGAS _ Just when the Texas Rangers' pursuit of starting pitching ran into a road block Tuesday at the MLB winter meetings, they finally had a breakthrough.
The Rangers are in agreement with right-hander Lance Lynn on a three-year deal worth $30 million, a source said. Lynn spent last season with the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees in his second year after Tommy John surgery.
Lynn, who spent the first six seasons of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, is has proven to be durable, aside from the elbow injury that cost him the 2016 season. He made 33 starts in his return season from Tommy John and 29 last season.
Lynn will join a rotation that includes left-handers Mike Minor and Drew Smyly and right-hander Edinson Volquez. There is still a need for more starters.
Two of the free agents on the Rangers' board, right-hander Charlie Morton and left-hander J.A. Happ, agreed to multiyear contracts elsewhere earlier Wednesday and left the Rangers to cross two names off the list.
Happ agreed to a three-year deal to return to the New York Yankees. Financial terms have not been reported. Morton is headed to the Tampa Bay Rays after agreeing to a two-year, $30 million contract.
The Rangers might have been a year short on Happ, but a source said that they went to two years on Morton. He considered it, but prefers being on the East Coast and in Florida for spring training.
The Rangers could still pursue free-agent rotation help. There also interest in Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who has until Jan. 2 to agree to a deal or head back to the Seibu Lions.
