The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are among the teams currently showing interest in free-agent right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The report, which included contributions from PJ Mooney, Sahadev Sharma, and Dennis Lin, indicates that the market for the veteran starter is beginning to take shape as the MLB offseason progresses. Giolito is coming off a whirlwind 2023 campaign where he saw time with three different organizations: the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians.
Across 184.1 innings last year, Giolito posted an 8-15 record with a 4.88 ERA and 204 strikeouts. Despite a turbulent second half of the season, his durability and high-strikeout upside remain attractive to clubs looking to stabilize their starting rotations. Between 2019 and 2021, Giolito was one of the most consistent arms in the American League, finishing in the top 11 of Cy Young voting for three consecutive years.
For the Cubs, Giolito represents a potential veteran presence to slot into a rotation featuring Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon. The Padres, meanwhile, are widely expected to be aggressive in the pitching market as they look to fill vacancies left by several departing free agents. Per Rosenthal, both clubs are actively monitoring the market for the 29-year-old righty.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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