The Dodgers are among the teams showing interest in White Sox righty Lucas Giolito, tweets Jon Morosi of MLB.com. It’s a natural fit, given the Dodgers’ need for rotation reinforcements and the White Sox’ status as likely sellers of short-term pieces. Giolito is a free agent at season’s end.
Giolito, who’ll turn 29 tomorrow, figures to be of interest to a wide variety of contending clubs. He’s in the midst of a strong season, is earning a $10.4MM salary this season, and has a strong track record dating back to his 2019 breakout. Similarly, the Dodgers figure to cast a wide net as they survey the trade market for starting pitching help. While it’s certainly of note that they’ve shown some interest in Giolito, there’s also no indication that there have been any advanced talks for the righty or that he, in particular, is being pursued more aggressively than the many other starters expected to popular the trade market. In some regards, it’d actually be more surprising to learn that the Dodgers weren’t interested in Giolito, given how logical the pairing is.
Los Angeles’ starting staff has been ravaged by injuries this season. The Dodgers have already lost Dustin May for the season (flexor surgery), and they’ve endured lengthy absences from each of Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin and struggling offseason signee Noah Syndergaard. Prospect Ryan Pepiot won the fifth starter’s job in camp this spring but suffered an oblique injury at the end of camp that has kept him out for the entire first half. Ace Clayton Kershaw hit the injured list late last month due to discomfort in his left shoulder. They knew coming into the year that Walker Buehler would be out until at least September after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Aug. 23 last summer.
The Dodgers have tapped into their pitching-rich system to patch things over, already calling up top prospects Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan and Gavin Stone for their big league debuts. Miller and Sheehan are both in the rotation at the moment, as is 26-year-old righty Michael Grove, who entered the ’23 season with just 29 1/3 big league innings under his belt. Grove has been tagged for a 6.89 ERA, however, struggling at a similar level to the previously mentioned Syndergaard (7.16 ERA in 55 1/3 innings).
Giolito isn’t missing bats at the same level as his 2019-20 peak, when he posted a massive 32.7% strikeout rate, but his results are in line with his best prior seasons. He’s sitting on a 3.45 ERA with a strong 25.3% strikeout rate and similarly impressive 7.4% walk rate. With the exception of last year’s 4.90 ERA, which looks like a clear outlier, Giolito has posted an ERA between 3.41 and 3.53 every season since 2019. Overall, he carries a 3.80 ERA in his past 701 2/3 big league innings. The right-hander is also averaging just under six innings per start in 2023, so he’d help give a break to the bullpen of any team to which he’s traded.
The White Sox figure to seek a strong return in any trade for Giolito. He’s one of the top arms on the market — arguably the top arm — and is a clear qualifying offer candidate at season’s end if they don’t trade him. As a 29-year-old free agent with a strong and durable track record, Giolito would be a slam dunk to reject that offer and hit the open market in search of a long-term, likely nine-figure deal. In the event that he signed elsewhere, the White Sox would receive a compensatory draft pick after Competitive Balance Round B in the 2024 draft (roughly in the mid-70s). In order to trade the righty, the ChiSox would need to feel they’re receiving greater value than the value of that theoretical 2024 draft selection.
Giolito recently landed in the top spot on MLBTR’s list of the top 50 deadline trade candidates — a reflection both of his on-field value and of the simple likelihood of him being traded in the next 19 days. (He also placed fourth on MLBTR’s Free Agent Power Rankings late last month.) The South Siders initially only planned to make rental players available, but recent reports have suggested that they’re now open to offers on the majority of their roster, save for the young core of Luis Robert Jr., Dylan Cease, Eloy Jimenez and Andrew Vaughn. In either scenario, Giolito figures to be available and among the likeliest stars to change hands in the next few weeks.
All that just to finish behind AZ & SF.
Arizona looks more real to me than S.F. I feel the Giants are mostly a collection of retreads and AAAA players who will falter in the second half. I’d bet my firstborn that the Giants finish behind the Dodgers, even with all the Dodgers injury issues.
Wow, sounds like you just described the Milwaukee Brewers. Retreads and AAAA players.. Luckily the Brewers play in one of the worst divisions.
Retreads and quad A players? Sounds like the world champion 2010 Giants
If they would just sign him, he would no longer be a rental player. But there’s no way Jerry cheapdorf would pay Gio what he deserves. In 124 seasons the highest contract the Sox have ever given is $75m? That’s ridiculous. That’s not a team that wants to win. One of the biggest reasons why no one wants to play for them. I hope Gio winds up on a team like the O’s where he would be a big help in getting to the PO. He deserves to play for a contender.
Giolito has said publicly that he’d prefer to remain with the Sox.
Im sure he does, there is no accountability to get better on the White Sox, its like being on a party boat for MLB players. Do nothing, under-perform and get paid all the same, and no expectations from the org, or coaching staff to get better either. Im surprised more players do not go to the Sox.. oh thats right, they are cheap too.
Also all players say that line publicly. At thing else sounds like you are ready to dump on a team.. not many teams like that.
nrd1138: Yes, Gio is getting paid but a pitcher of his caliber is worthe an increase in salary to stay with the Sox. But Reinsdorf won’t pay up to keep Giolito, he likely won’t pick up Hendriks’ $15m option, and will basically get rid of any player making more than $3-5m a year.
That’s nice of him but I think the lot of us Sox fans would rather see him go succeed elsewhere rather than wither away in our pathetic organization. I know he’s from southern California, so I’ve assumed all along that he would be traded — more likely than not — to the Dodgers or Angels. With how Arizona has performed this year, I wouldn’t rule them out either.
Wherever he ends up, I hope he has a lot of success and goes on to help his team do big things. He’s definitely up there with Buehrle, Sale, and Quintana as one of my favorite pitchers to ever suit up for the White Sox.
Please explain to me why he deserves to play on a contender. Are there players on contenders that don’t deserve to be there? There are a lot of me first players on the White Sox. Perhaps he doesn’t deserve it.
Since AZ and SF have Neon Cop’s endorsement, you can safely bet against them now.
That’s funny — I said at the beginning of last season that the Dodgers were overrated & would choke…then they did. Back to your KoolAid, simp.
Hopefully the White Sox and Dodgers will discuss adding Tim Anderson and a reliever to a Lucas Giolito trade for a real blockbuster.
Dodgers want no part of Anderson. He’s got a few more years on his contract, highly over-rated plus once Lux comes back next year they won’t need a SS
The “look at me”, drama queen known as Tim Anderson would not fit in with the Dodgers. Besides, if they acquired him, they would still need a SS, because he’s always hurt. The Dodgers need T.A about as much as they need Anthony Rendon, which is veey little to none.
Cue some of the CWS fans who cry about all of Anderson’s haters. He’s not a bad guy, he’s just misunderstood! Yeah, that’s why they’ll take anything they can get for him by the deadline.
Probably more of a reflection of his play than his character
Bro – TA’s been BRUTAL offensively this year, terrible baserunning and defensively every year, and just lackadaisical all the time. If they can get a bag of peanuts for him, then put Colson Montgomery there to try to grow and figure it out, I’d love to see it.
How about we give you TA + Giolito for Gavin Lux? Come on, he’s from Kenosha, WI, within an hour of Chicago…
Tim Anderson has zero power
@tangerinepony
Tim Anderson does not have “a few more years on his contract”. Whichever team has him this offseason, they will have a 14MM option on his contract for 2024 with a $1M buyoot. That is a bargain for the production that TA7 has typically produced since 2018 when he is healthy.
Additionally, Gavin Lux is more suited for 2B than SS, a position that the more athletic Anderson might eventually settle into as he ages.
The Dodgers will disagree with you especially since Lux was drafted as a SS played short throughout the minors and their GM said publicly after the injury that Lux is their SS for the long term after he’s healthy. Besides he’s much better as a SS than 2B he’s got better range and very athletic
Anderson is playing hurt. Suspect an off season surgery or rehab is on the horizon. I was at the game last Sunday and know what I saw. White Sox would be better off sitting him until heathy and playing a minor leaguer.
Not true. One more year on contract which is a team option for $14m
I don’t think anyone is going to touch Tim without the White Sox covering a significant amount of his contract, as well as lower trade compensation.
Why would they waste prospect capital on .521 OPS Tim Anderson? They have the greatest shortstop who ever lived, Mookie Betts
Because their OF isn’t very impressive w/o Mookie.
That’s why they’ll add the very impressive .223 hitter with shoddy defense?
That is exactly what I’ve been hoping for. Gio, Tim, Kelly, Graveman & Yas in a package to the Dodgers for Lux & Cartaya. Maybe Bush instead of Lux. Either way, Cartaya is the prize. He’s blocked by Will Smith & could be the future 10 year plus backstop. Bush or Lux are great adds as well. Hahn won’t get it done.
Dodgers have the starters, just the worst luck with injuries. They could field an 8 man rotation of solid arms (no, not Thor) if all healthy.
Boo Hoo! Tigers just got 4 starters back from the IL, and still have 8 on it. Where’s the articles about that? Every team has injuries. It’s just another excuse for a poorly run roster. Depth wins.
Every team in need of a starter should be checking in on Gio
Like Anderson, a change of scenery for Gio might help him get even better. Gio is dealing with a pending divorce. He was served the papers just before the HR derby started. Being from California, his wife is going to get half his money. She’s going for blood, wanting several of their assets like their home, etc. That’s a lot to deal with, especially in the middle of the season. Good thing the Sox aren’t contending for anything.
His wife is a good housekeeper.
After the divorce, she’s keeping the house.
Avenger
Why is it “going for blood” if the wife wants to keep half the assets but not if the husband does?
If he was dumb enough not to insist on a prenup, then it was his mistake, not her fault.
GOD HATES DIVORCE. Don’t do it kids.
Seems like a lot of prospects for a guy pulling a three and a half era in one of the worst divisions in baseball. Teams afraid of missing the post season are a good fit but his value goes way down once the post season starts and he has to consistently face good offenses.
But also playing in front of one of the worst defenses in baseball. That isn’t always accurately reflected in the stats.
Hey Case, you’ve heard of the whole balanced schedule thing right? The Sox have played 26 of their 92 games against the central, the same number that Baltimore has played against the Central.
In fact, in games vs teams over .500, his ops against is .605, whereas it is .801 against teams under .500. Sounds like a perfect guy for a playoff team.
Every CONTENDING team should be checking in on Gio. The headline is misleading. The Dodgers want starting pitching. They are interested in Gio, no more, and no less, than any other starter per the article. But by throwing both into the headline, just look at the clicks!!!
Cincinnati should target Lucas, since he’s a rental, and they could let him walk in Free Agency without wrecking their farm. They could slot him in with Abbott and Lively, and hopefully with Greene and Lodolo when they return.
The question with the Reds is, how much salary are they willing to take on? But yeah, the division is theirs for the taking. With better pitching, they could be fairly formidable in the postseason.
The Sox should be willing to take on whatever salary is needed in order to get the best prospect package possible. They won’t, but they should.
The White Sox will never get better until Hahn and his master, Reinsdorf along with Williams, are gone.. Bad owner, bad general manager, and rotten Stevie Stone and the Weird One in the TV booth. Get rid of them all. Otherwise you will be screaming “rip-off” like we are already saying here in Las Vegas about having the worthless Oakland A’s buying their way into a city that 72% of people polled here have said they will have nothing to do with the team at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana which is one hell of a busy intersection on the Strip….
And take the rotten Raiders out to the desert and get rid of that group of parasites as well.
It’s not the salary, it’s the player cost. They’ll more than make up the half of season of salary with increased attendance in a playoff chase (and much more if they make the playoffs).
Have you checked the standings lately?
Of course Andrew Friedman came over to run the Dodgers from Tampa Bay. Both teams develop pitchers well.
Then again, both teams have had numerous pitching injuries over the years.
Coincidence?
Yes. I normally don’t believe in coincidences, but in this case, I don’t see anything in their development that would lead to an increased injury risk. There are just a ton of injuries in MLB these days. BTW, it’s a good thing MLB started doing pitch counts. That has certainly helped to reduce pitcher injuries. NOT.
Gavin Lux and top pitching prospect for Giolito and Anderson would work out for both teams.
Maybe in the past, but TA has -1.7 bWAR this season and a .638 OPS over the past two seasons.
That combined with durability concerns tanks his value.
There is no way I would do that if I’m the Dodgers. TA is useless right now. And even if his off-field issues get resolved, and he gets his head back into the game, he isn’t a shortstop. And Lux is too valuable to give up on.
Anderson has no value. The Dodgers would hang up the phone if the White Sox asked for Lux. Giolito is a rental and isn’t what he once was. Trading for Lux and Miller(top pitching prospect) has a negative 52 trade value according to the trade simulator.
Dodgers would not do Lux for Giolito rental straight up, so you think adding a bad Anderson contract helps that?
YES!! ;0) Trade simulator says Giolito + Anderson for Lux works, so I’m down!
Of course, the Dodgers and Gio’s agent could work out a new contract before the deal. Then, again, he would not be a rental.
At age 29 he isn’t going to take a one or two year extension. A new contract would be a significant market-rate commitment..
Possible? Yes. Probable? This close to Free Agency! Not likely.
It’s a hard “no” for me. Anderson is not any better than the current options LA has for SS/2b
Arizona?
No on Anderson, clubhouse cancer and really bad attitude
T.A is first on the list of reasons that a seemingly always talented Wsox team continually underperforms.
Nope. The Sox problems begin and end with LaRussa. The negative effect he left on the team will take time to disappear.
Avenger they went to the playoffs and were 500 with LaRussa so there goes your theory
I don’t even like La Russa, but he has a track record of success that is greater than that of the White Sox franchise. You’re going to have to blame someone else.
yep look at the series vs Oakland where i think he had 10 hits in 3 games compared to God Abreu who had 1
The Dodgers have an overrated farm system in my opinion. They have some good prospects but they are not as good as the prospect rankings on MLB.com say they are. Many are old and many are not performing.
Hopefully for the White Sox several teams are interested in Giolito to drive up the return. Dodgers, Giants, Reds, Diamondbacks, Astros, Rangers, Orioles are teams that may be interested or at least should be.
They might also consider bringing back Rich Hill who is eating innings like never before (98 so far this year). Not a sexy addition, but he’ll take the ball every 5th day and keep you in the game. Won’t take more than a lottery ticket to get him.
Hill would be a smart Thor replacement (backend innings eater) but I have a feeling LA wants a playoff quality SP at the deadline. If they lose out on Giolito, I bet they’ll pivot to one of Flaherty, Montgomery, from STL or Paxton in Boston. Bieber is also a possibility but I think the multiple years make him a better fit on other teams.
They might as well keep running Grove out there rather than pick up 5 inning Rick
Nope. I like Sheehan’s grit. I think he’s gonna be very good.
White Sox and LA make sense on a deal for many reasons. Chicago has one of the worst track records and reputations for developing talent. I read an article recently where a MLB scout joked that the “White Sox don’t do dev”. LA has tons of depth and many of their players are major league ready. A package from the dodgers could fill a few needs for CHI and still not hurt LA too much.
I see Houston/STL and Cincy/Cleveland lining up on pitching for prospect trades too
I agree the Sox are horrible at developing talent. With all the talent on that team, they are 16 under .500 in possibly the worst division in MLB history. They should be running away with that sad excuse of a division. Instead they are pretty much finished.
A Gavin stone might make the deal
Not sure if the Dodgers want to sell low on Stone at this point.
Call the Tigers about Erod or Lorenzen. Send some young offensive players their way.
It’s interesting that Gio Gonzalez was nicknamed Double G, and this guy is nicknamed Gio.
Dodgers fans, what about Sheehan or Frasso for Giolito? You can even have a reliever of your choice added in…if you dare.
Gio is the best available starting pitcher now. There will be a lot of competition for him and someone will have to overpay to get him. The Dodgers most likely. They have an over abundance of prospects and can easily afford to do that.
Since his wife filed for divorce during the all star weekend, maybe a change of scenery could be more of a possibility,or the opposite. He is a good pitcher with nice upside and would help alot of teams.
Giolito remains one of top arms available, so it doesn’t matter if trade is “even/fair”.
Sox just need one team to get hungry. It’s been awhile since Orioles, Dbacks, and Cincy have shined. Maybe they push their chips in?
Everyone knows that Hahn is on the ropes.. I mean he will not lose his job, he’ll either be promoted or he would have to quit for that to happen, but I think even ‘hungry’ teams will will only pay appetizer-like price with the White Sox.
I hope the Sox maximize the lack of available pitching available in this trade market. Giotto, Lynn, the bullpen pieces….not to mention the position players. Sheets & Burger aren’t great, but there’s value in a trade. I wish someone other than Hahn was in charge but I see a lot of ways with the trade deadline to make this team very good in 2024.
You just have to look at 2022 trade deadline to compare returns. Tyler Mahle brought back #7, #18 and #23 rates prospects from the Twins. That would be players rated 55/45/40 on MLB top prospects ratings. I’d argue that Giolito is a better pitcher, but that should be the baseline return.
As far as Tim Anderson…after the infidelity accusations surfaced at the beginning of the season, his head has been screwed up. CWS are better off retaining him for the $14M next year which is middle of the road money for SS’s now a days. He’ll surely notch it up next year heading into free agency and after that Montgomery will be ready.