Report: Phillies in contact with free agent Lynn

Could the signing logjam among free-agent starting pitchers be broken up by the Philadelphia Phillies?

After recently being publicly tied to discussions with Scott Boras, agent for former Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta, the Phillies have made contact with the representatives of Lance Lynn, MLB.com reported Thursday.

According to the report, no agreement is imminent between the Phillies and Lynn, who turns 31 in May.

But this report follows the publicized Arrieta discussions in recent weeks that hinted that the team was at least considering a big splash on the starting pitching market.

One potential downside to signing either Lynn or Arrieta (turns 32 next Tuesday) is that the organization would lose its second-highest draft pick because both right-handers turned down qualifying offers from their prior teams -- the Cardinals and Cubs, respectively.

On the surface, Lynn seems more in the rebuilding team's ballpark than Arrieta. Lynn is slightly younger, with less major league wear and tear and nearly 200 fewer career innings pitched (977 2/3 to Arrieta's 1,161). Arrieta's flashier resume (two no-hitters, 2015 NL Cy Young Award, three top-10 finishes in Cy Young Award voting), reported high-end salary desires and age lend credence to a landing spot in major markets with contending teams. The Phillies have the market and money, but have not had a winning season since 2011.

Also of note, Lynn missed the entire 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November of 2015.

The Phillies also must consider they already lost a second-round pick after signing first baseman Carlos Santana, who rejected a qualifying offer from the Cleveland Indians.

--Field Level Media