Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn delivers a pitch to the Colorado Rockies in the second inning.    UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn delivers a pitch to the Colorado Rockies in the second inning. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have reached agreement with right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn on a three-year contract (2015-17), thus avoiding salary arbitration.  Media reports suggest the total value is $22 million.

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Lance,” stated Cardinals Senior V.P./General ManagerJohn Mozeliak.  “His performance has led to much success for both he and the Cardinals organization, and we look forward to his continued growth as both a pitcher and team leader.”

Drafted by the Cardinals in the 1st round (39th player overall) of the 2008 amateur draft, Lynn has compiled a 49-28 career won-loss mark with a 3.46 ERA in 119 games (97 games started).  Since debuting in 2011, Lynn has been a member of a Cardinals team that has reached the postseason for a franchise-record four consecutive seasons with Lynn having appeared in a franchise-record 23 postseason games.

Lynn’s 48 wins since 2012 are the 3rd-highest amongst National League pitchers, trailing only teammateAdam Wainwright (53) and the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw (51).  Lynn also ranks among N.L. leaders in games started (95-T7th) and innings pitched (581.1-11th) since 2012 and his 59 quality starts since 2012 rank 10th.

Lynn is one of just three pitchers (Max Scherzer, Zack Greinke) in the majors to have won 15 or more games in each of the last three seasons, including a career-high 18 during his 2012 All-Star campaign.  He and Wainwright joined Hall-of-Famer Bob Gibson (1970-72) this past season as the last Cardinals to have struck out 175 or more batters in three consecutive seasons.

Lynn, 27, is ranked 5th among active Major League pitchers in winning pct. (.636) and the Cardinals have gone 60-37 in his 97 career starts.  The Indiana native is 27-12, 2.80 ERA in his 57 career appearances at Busch Stadium III, ranking 4th among the stadium’s all-time wins leaders.

Lynn matched his career high with 33 starts in 2014 and produced a career-low 2.74 ERA (9th in N.L.) while logging a second-straight season with over 200 innings pitched.  The 6-5, 240-pound right-hander twirled his first career complete-game shutout on May 27 vs. the Yankees in a 6-0 win.

With the today’s signing of Lynn, the Cardinals now have three remaining arbitration eligible players: Peter Bourjos, Tony Cruz and Jon Jay.