5 Dodgers whose futures depend on promising postseason performances

Lance Lynn

We're not sure what's going on with Lance Lynn's playoff role, but we sure do know whatever he does will need to be convincing if the Dodgers are to pick up his $18.5 million option for the 2024 season. Lynn's been both great and horrific for LA, and that mixed bag of results isn't going to guarantee him that much money, no matter how much flexibility Friedman has.

Dave Roberts says he views Lynn as a starter right now, and we'd most certainly agree. The Yankees tried to use him as a reliever in the postseason a few years back and, well, you don't want to know the results. The baseball world has seen Lynn at his best, and it's when he's in the rotation.

Also, to justify that salary, he'll need to be starting games. Gone are the days smart teams invest huge salaries in closers or high-leverage relievers. If his option is picked up in 2024, it's because he'll be a member of the rotation for the duration of the season.

But there's little room for error. One patented blowup outing kickstarted by a barrage of home runs, and Lynn is toast. Three quality outings in the NLDS and NLCS, though? That redefines his future, and will likely keep him on the best team of the last decade for one more year.

And even if the Dodgers pass and opt to go for bigger and better pitchers and decline his option, Lynn will need to position himself for another year on the open market.