A Lance Lynn trade by the Texas Rangers in August, 2020, seemed likely — inevitable, really — and the Chicago White Sox, who reportedly have reached a deal with Texas to acquire Lynn for pitchers Dane Dunning and Avery Weems, were considered one of the top potential landing places.
Lynn was not traded at the deadline, however, a move that resulted in much criticism of the Rangers and their front office. The team said at the time the right deal wasn’t there for them to pull the trigger.
Ken Rosenthal is reporting, however, that there was also another factor at play — namely, that Lynn had told the Rangers he would opt out of the remainder of the 2020 season “if he was sent to a team he did not wish to join.