Cardinals sign Lynn to three-year deal

ST. LOUIS -- Pitcher Lance Lynn, among baseball's winningest pitchers over the last three seasons, and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a $22 million, three-year contract.

Lynn's 48 wins since 2012 is third-most in the National League and he's been part of a rotation that's made it to the postseason a franchise-record four consecutive seasons.

The 27-year-old right-hander gets $7 million this year and $7.5 million in each of the following two seasons. He can make $500,000 in performance bonuses based on starts in 2016 and $1 million in 2017: $125,000 each for 25, 27, 29 and 31 in 2016 and $250,000 for each of those levels the following year.

Lynn made $535,000 last season, when he was 15-10 with a 2.74 ERA in 33 starts. He was the team's first-round pick in the 2008 draft and is 49-28 with a 3.46 ERA in 119 games, 97 of them starts.

The agreement was reached Thursday, two days after Lynn filed for arbitration.

"His performance has led to much success for both he and the Cardinals organization," general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. "We look forward to his continued growth as both a pitcher

Only teammate Adam Wainwright (53) and the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (51) have won more games the last three seasons.

Lynn matched his career high with 33 starts last year and his 2.74 ERA was a career best.

The Cardinals have three remaining players eligible for arbitration: outfielders Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos and backup catcher Tony Cruz.