4 offseason decisions the Dodgers already need to be thinking about

Pick up Lance Lynn's $18 Million Option?

Yup, more deadline dividends! Lance Lynn's latest outing featured seven scoreless innings against the Brewers in a 1-0 win to extend the Dodgers' win streak to 11. Since arriving in LA, Lynn is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA, 3.94 FIP and 0.88 WHIP in four starts. That's after he was statistically the worst starter in MLB with the White Sox, logging a 6.47 ERA, 5.20 FIP and 1.46 WHIP in 21 starts (he led the AL in home runs allowed).

Now that's he's revitalized playing for a contender and the Dodgers are staring down the barrel of more starting rotation problems come the offseason, might they just save themselves another transaction and just pick up Lynn's $18 million team option? That's essentially the qualifying offer and a fine annual salary for an above-average pitcher.

Let's say the Dodgers bring in Ohtani and keep one of Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urías, both of whom will be free agents. Bobby Miller is staying in the rotation, so that's three top starters. But who's after that? Dustin May simply can't come back as a starter after all that's interrupted the early part of his career. Michael Grove isn't a viable option. Tony Gonsolin is falling out of favor, and fast. Can they risk rolling the dice with two underwhelming options behind those three, which would likely feature another prospect added into the mix?

Keeping Lynn buys the Dodgers time and keeps their rotation in tremendous shape on paper, leaving flexibility to introduce younger arms or a flyer for the No. 5 spot. The veteran can help bridge the gap to 2025 when ... Corbin Burnes and Max Fried hit free agency.