Lucas Giolito‘s protracted 2025-2026 free agency stint has finally ended. The Padres announced that they have signed him to a one-year deal with a mutual option. He’ll receive a $3MM guarantee, with half of that total via buyout on a 2027 mutual option worth $8MM. Giolito can increase the buyout by $3MM based on starts in 2026. There is an additional $2MM in unlockable bonuses tied to awards voting. To make room on the 40-man, the Padres announced that righty Bryan Hoeing has been transferred to the 60-day IL as he recovers from flexor surgery. Giolito will start with Single-A Lake Elsinore and must be on the major league roster within the next 25 days. Giolito is represented by CAA Sports.
For Giolito, his second foray into free agency was not nearly as successful as his first. His 2019 to 2021 run with the White Sox had him positioned as a top-of-the-rotation arm. Among 46 starters who threw at least 350 innings in that time frame, Giolito was sixth with a 30.7% strikeout rate on the back of a fantastic fastball-changeup pairing. His propensity for fly balls (41.7 FB%) and homers (13.7 HR/FB%) possibly prevented “ace” designation, yet Giolito was easily one of baseball’s best pitchers in this time frame.
However, more middling results followed in 2022 and 2023, with the homers especially ticking up in 2023. His 41 big flies were second only to Lance Lynn. Despite a poor platform year by his standards, Giolito and his representatives were able to parlay the showing into a $38.5MM guarantee with the Red Sox over the ’24-’25 seasons, with some additional incentives and player option structure.
Unfortunately, a torn UCL brought his 2024 season to an abrupt halt. An internal brace procedure (which carries a shorter rehab timeline than a traditional Tommy John ligament graft) had him back on the mound at the end of the following April, where he threw 145 innings. ERA evaluators/predictors like xFIP (4.59) and SIERA (4.65) were more bearish on his work than his actual results (3.41). Notably, Giolito’s strikeouts were down from his heyday with the White Sox. He profiled more as a back-of-the-rotation starter than the tremendous upside he flashed from 2019-2021 with Chicago.
Despite a solid return to the rotation, Giolito suffered from flexor irritation and a bone issue at the conclusion of the 2025 season. Although he was set to return to the club after resting, the Red Sox’s early postseason exit meant Giolito had no chance to pitch again before free agency. Under the hood, Giolito looked like a muted version of his best days, but he was a perfectly adequate starter in 2025.
His fastball velocity checked in about a one mile per hour (93.3) lower than his best seasons with the White Sox (94.2), but this was a continuation of a trend started in 2022. Among 82 pitchers who tossed at least 140 innings last season, Giolito was 69th in K-BB%, indicating both below-average ability to miss bats and control the zone. However, he was able to limit homers more effectively than ever before: his 9.3 HR/FB% was below league average, and the first time he recorded a single-percentage mark in a season of 25 or more starts.
Giolito declined his end of a $19MM mutual option (essentially a formality) with the Red Sox for 2026, and it perhaps came as no surprise that the Red Sox passed on extending Giolito a qualifying offer after the 2025 season due to some lingering injury trepidation. He is the last of the MLBTR 2025-2026 Top 50 MLB Free Agents to sign, and comes in far below expectations in years and total guarantee. Even without draft pick compensation attached, Giolito sat on the free agent market well into April, despite some notable playoff aspirants like the Braves, Cubs, and Padres losing multiple starters during Spring Training and the early season.
Speaking of the Padres, the news couldn’t come at a better time. Injuries and slowed recoveries have decimated the top of the rotation over the past few months. Yu Darvish had his second UCL surgery after the playoffs concluded in early November. Darvish is currently rehabbing on the restricted list away from the team and has reportedly considered retirement. Joe Musgrove, recovering from his own Tommy John surgery back in October 2024 and expected to open the season in the rotation, has had his rehab interrupted and was placed on the IL to open the season. 2025 workhorse Nick Pivetta hit the IL after four starts with a flexor strain. Surgery is not currently on the table, but given the recurrence of the strain (Pivetta also hit the IL for a short period in 2024 with the same issue), the Padres will give Pivetta ample time to rest his ailing arm in the hopes of having him available for a postseason run.
These injuries have thinned the depth of the rotation considerably in San Diego. Juan Soto trade returns Michael King and Randy Vasquez are providing quality innings, but the back of the rotation has shown mixed results to this point. Walker Buehler, though a far cry from his Dodgers’ peak, is looking like he still might have something left in the tank. Former Rockies All-Star German Marquez has a 3.86 ERA but less exciting numbers under the hood. Knuckleballer Matt Waldron was hit hard in his 2026 debut.
All three back-end starters have struggled to give the Padres consistent innings at the back of the rotation. Seven of the Padres’ first 23 games have had a starter fail to record an out in the fifth inning. Though Griffin Canning is on the horizon while working through a Triple-A El Paso rehab, the Padres decided that it was worth fortifying the rotation depth for the summer ahead.
Giolito’s contract stipulation for a Major League recall within the next 25 days would put him in line for a mid-May debut. This should give him four turns through the rotation to build up his arm after missing all of Spring Training. Should the rotation remain healthy after Canning joins, the Padres will have some decisions to make. As MLB veterans with ample service time, Buehler and Marquez can’t be optioned without their consent. Someone may end up in the bullpen or pushed off the roster entirely, depending on future health.
For now, San Diego will be happy to kick the roster-crunch can down the road. It’s an affordable, low-risk signing of an MLB-quality arm that could help the team weather the injury storm. The deal is much in the vein of recent similar signings by PBO/GM A.J. Preller. Operating under some payroll constraints after the death of former owner Peter Seidler and the imminent sale of the club, Preller has prioritized creative, low-dollar guarantees to Pivetta, Marquez, Buehler, and now Giolito to minimize the CBT hit (the Padres are currently in the first luxury payor tier). For his part, Giolito gets the opportunity to pitch for a potential contender with a recent record of rehabilitating starting pitchers’ value as he looks to surpass his 2025 platform year for a better offer next offseason.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post was the first to report the $3MM guarantee and the $2MM in awards bonuses. Ari Alexander of 7News Boston WHDH had the $1.5MM salary and buyout on the $8MM mutual option plus the $3MM in escalators. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune had the details on the initial minor league assignment and recall stipulation.
Lucas with the lid off!
I just recently figured out that’s the name of that song after looking for 30 years
Man I wish I could bottle that feeling. This recently happened to me when I finally stumbled upon the sneaker pimps “6 underground” title and artist after having it earworming me on and off since the mid 90s.
Quite a feeling for sure. That’s how I felt when I finally learned the name of Darude Sandstorm when I was 11.
Same for me with Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation.
wooooooooooah wooooooooooah wooooooooooah
I loved that song so much when it was released and started listening to it again. Such a wonderfully unique song.
For me, it was Karn Evil 9 by Emmerson, Lake, & Palmer. It used to play before White Sox games when I was a kid and I just couldn’t fathom what this prog rock awesomeness was until much later.
Another one was Moments in Love by Art of Noise.
Some songs just feel like fever dream material.
@dr.richardwang no wayyyy same here! I discovered the names of both at Summer Camp (same Summer believe it or not)!
at least three years earworming the acoustic guitar lick from Fire On High by ELO and not knowing the song. I went through the entire ELO library but never went far enough into the song to get to the riff to verify it was the song. Finally, I heard it at 4:30 am as bumper music on some random AM sports talk station after driving all night from Fallon, NV to Novato, CA. I called the radio station from the truck and told them I wasn’t even trying to get on the station to ask a question on the air. I just need to know the name of the bumper song they just used. Three years of frustration gone once he told me and I teed it up on Apple Music and got to the riff.
Cool story bro.
Oops I did it again the one that I just discovered
Padres hit 1st place and he signed
Finally! He’s got the job! The Padres have a big need for starters and Giolito is a great solution!
He is?
Let’s see if Niebla can work his magic with him
I’ll take those 2025 stats
His baseball card stats are … fine. But looking under the hood, and actually watching his performance last year paints a different picture. One of which is of a starter that can’t be trusted, is trending in the wrong direction all across the board and should be easily improved on by some depth piece. Eat fresh.
Smelly – Two things to keep in mind:
1) He ended last season with an arm injury, then claimed he’s fine. Similar to what he told Boston 2 years ago, which turned out to be 100% false.
2) He missed all of ST and the first month of the regular season already. Pitchers who start this late in the season typically struggle, at least for a while.
There’s a reason he’s getting only $3M this season.
This reminds me of that meme-type interview from Katy Perry, “Sometimes you just have to say that you’re fine, but you’re not really fine”.
Has there ever been a pitcher who went unsigned through most or all of Spring Training that went on to be good that same season? Only one off the top of my head who wasn’t outright horrible was Dallas Keuchel in 2019 as one of the more recent ones.
In 2025 he was coming off an injury and ended the season on the IL with an injury to the same elbow.
His FIP was .70 higher than his ERA which indicates regression is coming. His 19.7% K rate, whiff rates that were half his career averages, and substantial increases in EV against him are bad signs when it comes to him maintaining the same level of ERA as well.
He missed all of spring training and wants to be in the major league roster in 25 days which is not enough time to ramp up to starting games and throwing 90+ pitches. Very seldom has an aging starter that held out through all of spring training because they were not signed yet went on to pitch well in the regular season. I can’t think of a single one, but there has to be at least one.
So many red flags, but as a #5 starter going to a team with 3 starters already on the IL being signed at a prorated portion of a $3 million salary that is well worth the investment.
mlb – Rocket went unsigned until May 31, 2006.
First game was June 22
Finished the season with a 2.30 ERA
Clemens or Chet Stedman?
So why wasn’t his ERA higher during the year he had that FIP? Seems his FIP this year should effect his ERA this year, not last years.
Lunch – You got me on that one! I never even heard of Stedman.
With the buy-out it’s $6M guarantee, although I assume the buy-out will apply to 2027’s payroll…right?
Rocket or I.M.Groot?
Stymeed, instead of attempts at a snide comment, go learn more about the stats.
goob, its $3 million guaranteed. $1.5 million salary in 2026 with a $1.5 million buyout of the mutual option for 2027.
From the article: “He’ll receive a $3MM guarantee, with half of that total via buyout on a 2027 mutual option worth $8MM.”
Yes, that $1.5 million buyout would apply to 2027.
He is indeed!
He is Groot? Or He is Risen?
The Padres pitching staff has the lowest ERA in baseball. Their rotation has a 3.50 ERA. Their #4 starter has an ERA under 2.00. Buehler, their #5, seems to have turned a corner and is pitching well his last 2 starts. They have Canning, who was really good for us in Boston last season, coming in the next week or so. Unless Pivetta is out for the season they really have no need for pitching.
Right now with Musgrove and Pivetta out for who knows how long, Matt Waldron and Marquez are in the rotation. Id lean towards neither of those guys being a solution.
So even with Canning back, there is a spot.
Giolito won’t be ready for at least a month.
Canning is making his 4th and probably final rehab start today and will take a spot in the rotation. Marquez has a 3.86 ERA so he won’t be losing his. King and Vasquez have been great. Buehler has been very effective his last 2 starts and if that continues until Giolito is ready won’t lose his spot. Where is the spot in the rotation?
Marquez hasn’t been great even with a 3.86 era
I still think the verdict is still out on Buehler and Marquez (who were low cost flyers to begin with). Giolito for $3M won’t be ready for a month or so. By then there may be a spot in the rotation. If not, awesome, that means things are going really well and $3M wasn’t a big risk.
Acee reported just now that Giolito has to be added to active roster by May 16
25 days is when he will be on the Padres roster. I doubt he will be ready, but that is when he will be on the roster.
Marquez has been either great or bad. 2 shutout games and 2 games where he gave up 4 runs. His ERA is 2.30 since the start of April and his only bad game was against his former team.
If it was my money I would go with the guy that has been there all spring and season so far instead of the guy that won’t be ready until the end of May. Its not my money and having another #5 starter for just $3 million is not a bad thing either.
You’re facts are correct but I’d argue that for $3M, picking up Giolito as depth was smart especially given the questions marks surrounding Pivetta, Musgrove and Waldron. Trades in April for SP are hard to come by and the Pads did need to deal with the lack of depth created by the injuries.
The $ figures had not been posted in the article at first. A prorated portion of a $3 million deal makes it worth it for depth.
Gio went into the offseason asking for 2/40 and I was glad Breslow didn’t even entertain bringing him back. That dropped to 2/32 later and still no bites. Now its a prorated 1/3. At that price, good for the Padres. They have already been hit hard by injuries and if another hits before the ASB Giolito could have a spot at the back of their rotation.
Waldron’s DFA is coming soon.
Waldron’s replacement is probably Canning who is pitching today on his rehab assignment. Who are the Padres playing on April 27 or 28? That is probably Canning’s first start for you guys.
Spoke too soon. Looks like Canning left last nights game for El Paso in the 2nd inning after just 45 pitches. An injury?
The Rays would make a trade and you would probably win it.
While the Padres have not said anything in particular about why, rumors are that Canning flew back to San Diego.
After flying back to San Diego to visit the biomechanics lab, Canning made his start for the Chihuahuas yesterday and went 5 innings giving up 3 hits and 1 run (o earned) with 4 strike outs.
Bitb
“The Padres pitching staff has the lowest ERA in baseball. ”
Braves 3.04
Padres 3.22
Then, you should consider park factors.
Padres are 6th with an ERA 16% better than league average.
Looking at just starters, they are 13th.
They are, as an entire staff, number 1 in FIP and number 4 in xFIP
I was looking at default on Fangraphs which is apparently WAR and they are the best in baseball in WAR. The Padres are 2nd in ERA as you pointed out which still doesn’t indicate they need another #5 starter. In FIP they are #1. The Braves are 11th.
Baseball i b: Canning never played for Boston. He was with the Mets last year, and the Angels before that. Maybe you meant to say Giolito??
Meant with the Mets. Giolito was with us .
U must not watch baseball much. You can never have enough starting pitching esp in this generation of injuries to pitchers
Best, 2nd lowest as of 2 days ago. Best WAR. Best FIP. But 2nd best ERA.
Buehler got handed his behind in Denver. Waldron gutted out 5 innings tonight to save the pen some innings. Not sure what is going on with Canning, but he was pulled early from what was supposed to be a 75 pitch outing in his rehab start.
The Padres need as much depth as Preller can line up and for $3 million guaranteed, Giolito fits the bill. If he is actually called up on May 21st, his first start would be during the A’s series.
Finally, I don’t have to hear about him going to the Cubs anymore!
Why?
A prorated one year $3MM veteran insurance policy for a Cubs rotation in need of reinforcements seems a like a reasonable cost to me.
Cade Horton is done for 2025 and Justin Steele will be a huge question mark following his own TJ procedure last April. I don’t have faith in either Ben Brown or Jaxon Wiggins as rotation solutions this season.
Brown is more suited to the bullpen and is needed there with injuries now impacting that part of the staff.
Wiggins has his own injury concerns at AAA to say nothing of relying on a rookie who lacks consistency AND the necessary innings buildup to handle a starting pitcher workload for a contending team down the stretch.
Lucas Giolito would have been a decent and cheap insurance policy to add to the Cubs rotation mix that also includes other veterans with durability and performance questions as they try to contend in MLB’s most competitive division while trying to line up with the Dodgers, Padres, Braves and other NL contenders in the postseason.
No thanks. Cubs have some interesting problems but right now the Starting Pitchers isn’t one of them. Most of the Cubs problems are injuries to the bullpen. While losing Horton hurts simply because he was their best P, Giolito isn’t any better than what they have and certainly nowhere near what Horton gave them. Boyd back, Rea, Good Imanaga, Taillon, Cabrera, are better. Assad is better. Steele will be back whatever he is. Wicks,Wiggins so exactly what does Giolito do for the Cubs? Answer- Not much. They have options and the starters are pretty much getting the job done. In fact I’d go out on a limb and say right now the Cubs starters are the best unit on the team. If he was a decent reliever I’d say sign him up.
A big need for starters or a need for big starters
Two birds, one stone, 4D chess Theo
Well how about that?
Pivetta and/or Musgrove might be worse off than they’re reporting
I would be shocked to see Pivetta again this season. Hope I’m very wrong.
That’s the only reason I could think of for signing him. He was good, but not great in Boston last season but ended the season injured. I wish him well. The Padres are really playing well. Maybe he can get a ring with them.
Like I said in another reply, let’s see what Niebla can do with him.
The last statements reported from Padres on Pivetta is that it’s a matter of weeks or months. The “…or months” part is not good.
Musgrove’s situation is less encouraging.
Brew, to me the key part of that whole interview with Stammen was that Pivetta would be shut down from throwing at all for 2 weeks and then they would re-evaluate his condition. 2 weeks is this coming Monday.
Pivetta was shut down for a couple weeks in 2024 and then came right back. I think he missed 4 or 5 starts. Hopefully for your Padres its the same situation.
I will be in Phoenix this week so I will stop by the Padres facility in Peoria and see how Musgrove is doing. HAHAHAHA
how long will he need to ramp up. a month?
Corbin signed what two weeks ago he’s already started three games.
Phil – He will need 25 days at the most.
He was already worked up to 4 innings on his own last week. Probably just two starts depending on results.
Worked up where? Against whom? His nephews t ball squad?
Kyle – Unless someone from the Padres was there in person to witness it, I wouldn’t trust anything that was said. He’s trying to sell himself, think of it as a resume.
How much????
$3 million
Good thing he held out to get paid “what he is worth.”
$3mm is a great deal for the Padres.
3m guarantee, half paid in 2026 and the other half paid on a mutual option that will be declined by someone. The Preller special.
Love this signing! Minimal risk, lots of upside and think they’ll get 20 mid-rotation type starts from him. Fast forward to next off-season and he’ll get a nice payday elsewhere, ala Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo or Nick Martinez.
20? Wishful thinking ….. maybe if they win WS?
Giolito and Buehler together again. Could be good depth in a month or so.
He belongs with Reynaldo Lopez
Might say more about the injury status of Pivetta and Musgrove than anything. But it’s a great sign to see the FO wanting to compete this year. Now the bats need to get going!
Brew, if you would have told me that Tatis would have 0 Hr, Manny and Cro both under .200, no Yu, Pivetta and Joe in rotation AND they have the best record in MLB – seriously!
The most important take is willingness to spend to solve a problem (injury) in rotation.
Greupner/AJ have been saying payroll is flexible and that they’d spend as they have to compete for playoffs/championship. So this is consistent with that messaging. New ownership is also likely to be attracted to the effort to compete (let’s hope anyway).
I don’t expect much out of Giolito (about as much as I would from Buehler and Marquez) but they do need some depth support with the unfortunate health issues with Pivetta and Musgrove.
Brew, I’m thinking Waldron has 1 more start and then DFA due to no options. Maybe we keep him on minors league deal. Canning takes his spot.
25 days from now, if Gio is good to go, either WB or GM takes the same route for Gio to join.
Then, the other one goes for Joe or Nick when they return.
Basically, best performing player gets to stay at each step.
Maybe we keep one or 2 or maybe a trade can happen.
The “depth” element won’t last long though due to the lack of options on these guys.
An IL stint for anyone could delay some.
Agreed, once Canning arrives. I really hope he sneaks through waivers and stays on minors deal.
As for the future potential musical chairs, someone might become trade bait at TD
I see a trade of Waldron being possible before DFA.
Yeah, lots can happen in the limbo period. Can always hope. I don’t see keeping him after Canning comes back regardless unless an injury.
Looks like Buehler throws tonight for the Padres. When is Waldron scheduled to start?
The reason I ask is Canning is scheduled to start for your AAA team tonight and then could start for the Padres as soon as the 27th or 28th. If Waldron is scheduled to start tomorrow then that is in line with Canning’s schedule.
Marquez has 2 shutout starts out of 3 this month and a 2.30 ERA. Buehler has given up 2 ER in his last 2 starts/11 IP and his FIP is 50% lower than his ERA at 3.02. If Marquez and Buehler continue to pitch well, then does Giolito go to long relief? Does he go on the IL with tired arm and go pitch a few more starts on a rehab assignment?
Brew, if Pivetta returns by the ASB, do you see your GM making a trade rather than just a DFA for the starter that is out of options? I think all 7 of the Padres starters including Pivetta and Giolito have no options.
Yeah those are all questions that I doubt AJ has clear answers to. Seems like Preller is playing the depth card this season, signing a number of low-cost flyers in hopes some stick. So far Marquez and Buehler have found a niche but it’s not a given they’ll continue to succeed. The Musgrove/Pivetta absences gave them a longer leash is all. And the Canning/Giolito arrivals bring back the competition. Barring additional injuries, someone is going to be a casualty.
Another twist; would if someone in the minors lights it up through July, someone like Mendez (who’s off to a great start in AA). Does AJ factor that potential piece when the TD arrives?
Continuing off my comment above, it’s unlikely an excess SP is worth much at the TD – it would only be to a team fighting for playoffs who might deal a low end prospect or two. But that’s better than a DFA
I think they will line up Waldron and Canning.
There are plenty of potential short IL rest breaks between the SD starters. That is for sure!
Agreed. If they are pitching well enough to be wanted then option Bradgley and Morgan and Estrada (when he returns) and Hart to stash in BP to offset an August injury like 2021 I think it was.
I am with you on that. I think they use the IL and the optionable relievers to keep all the depth around until they absolutely have to make a move unless someone is terrible.
The Padres are built around their bullpen. They only need these starters to keep them in the game, and then let the bullpen do what they do
San Diego continues to stay classy
By making poor signings?
Tell me you’re a Dodgers fan without telling me you’re a Dodgers fan.
I mean, its not like we paid him 18 million last year or 18 million the year before. And a 1.5million payout for 2026. THAT would be a poor signing. LOL
baseball-reference.com/players/g/giolilu01.shtml#a…
Kinda depends on what the amount is, but I’m happy to see the article title isn’t “Cubs Sign…”
Always liked Giolito. Didn’t like how fast Rizzo & Co. gave him up at all. Wish they’d have signed him instead of Lattel.
Not even a discount why wait this long 😭
Didn’t he want over $19m? How is this not a discount?
errr, he made 18 and 19 million last two years, and last year was 10-4 with 3.41 era. seems like that information should make you reconsider.
I’m not saying he was worth that amount but he opted out of $19m so obviously his asking price would start there
Right, over-under on his first trip to the IL?
The best part about Lucas G is how his uncle portrayed Susan’s father. “They’re all chickens. The rooster has sex with all of them”.
Yup, his grandfather actually, Warren Frost as “Mr. Ross”, in a memorable episode! 🤣
Oh my bad. Is his uncle twin peaks co creator Mark Frost? I got the family tree jumbled.
You are correct Si⅔r!
wow, didn’t know that. cool trivia!
It’s $3 mil….no biggie if he isn’t the answer to whatever the question is
Technically its 86% of $3 million. At $3 million he is still decent depth. Especially since the Padres are likely to lose any pitcher they try to sneak through waivers to make room for Canning then Pivetta and Musgrove.
Steve, as a Minnesotian you are plugged in probably more to the Twins than most. What did you think of Falvey as a baseball man? Woukd he be someone you would want to hire as a GM or POBO? Just curious. Keep up the good work.
Sorry, I intended this comment for a different post.
Add a little pitching depth first half of the season. Possibly create some trade value for the second half…
3 million isn’t that much for a mid rotation starter. Good pickup hope he does well this year.
$3 million isn’t much for a back of the rotation starter, which is what Giolito is at this point.
I knew there was no way he was going to get more than $25 million per season for 2 years, it is just like Jake Arrieta.After he was a free agent for the Cubs, his agency wanted 5 years and $200 million dollars, he settled with the Phillies for 3 years and $75 million dollars, and to my knowledge, I do not think he was injured for his free agency. I still think $3million dollars is risky for a pitcher who might have arm problems.
They should have given him the minimum salary, and loaded his contract with incentives.
“Should have given him” – that isn’t really how it works.
I’m sure he turned down any such offers over the past 6 weeks.
Adds to the Buehler, Canning, Walker, Marquez group of guys who might pan out and don’t cost much.
So far the strategy is largely working.
I am not paying a pitcher $3million dollars who might have arm problems…it is that simple.
So you know pitchers who will definitely never have arm problems??? You should have a job in some team’s front office genius.
Nicholas, this is not your best comment.
LOL, $3m for a starter who MIGHT have arm problems is a steal.
Musgrove, Darvish & Pivetta all FOR SURE have arm problems and make $20m each this year.
Sadly that is just baseball in 2026
How much are the Dodgers paying for pitchers they signed that might have arm problems including Snell, Glasnow, and Ohtani?
I like this for the Padres. Giolito wore down at the end of last season but there were stretches where he looked like a second ace for the Red Sox last season
First half – 3.36 ERA
Second half – 3.47 ERA
BABip, BAA and OPS were better in 2nd half. His K% went down and his BB% went up so that was not good. Not sure I see where he wore down, people just adjusted a bit.
Go padres!! Stinking Dodgers
Low cost option for SD. And, given how the market valued him this past off-season, a chance for him to regain stature. Yes, he and his agent seem to have misjudged, but it’s a few months and a few million.
I finally watched Amadeus. Great movie.
Sure, but Mozart was Austrian, the name Giolito is of Italian origin.
Cubs figure they got lucky with Rea and Boyd is back today so keep the $ in mothballs and if they lose again this year like they did last year because they didn’t have enough pitching oh well, they’ll fill the park up next year and the year after …
Yup. Only 1 start but Boyd looked like an ACE. Jed says Who needs pitching depth when I can just add 3 million to the Nickels slush fund
Gotta figure this got over the line because they are anticipating a lengthy absence from Pivetta.
Wow Giolito messed up royally. Passed on $19 million to get… $3 million.
I am curious about something though. If Giolito is not ready to be called up in 25 days, is this a split contract where he gets paid minor league money for the 25 days? Is he then released and is a free agent again. Good luck to him if that happens.
There is pretty much no way he will be ready to go 90 or more pitches in 4 minor league starts after missing all of spring training.
Or is he going to pitch out of the Padres already best in baseball bullpen? Take Kyle Hart’s place as long man?
What does this mean for Pivetta and Musgrove? Canning is throwing his last rehab start today. He will step into the rotation in place of Waldron. King, Vasquez, Marquez, Buehler, Canning. Even if Pivetta and Musgrove are out for the season, where does Giolito fit into that picture?
It was a mutual option. Would Boston have picked up their side of it at $19 million? I don’t know.
I had thought it was a player option. Thanks. If they didn’t offer a QO for $2 million more, they probably would not have picked their end of a mutual option.
Little wary of this signing
Been too long on the market
Conditioning might be a question mark
May need a month in minors to ramp up to game
Speed
Could wind up on the 60 himself if he’s thrown on the mound too soon
“Only 7 of the teams first 23 games have had a starter pitch into the 5th inning”
This is not correct.
Longtimecoming: Yes, you are correct. Quick glance, I count around 15 starts for Padres starters getting through the 5th inning so far this season. Not sure where the author got 7 from.
I quit counting at 9!
Maybe its 6th inning? Should have said “in only 7 of the teams first 23 starts did the starter pitch beyond the 5th inning”??
Just guessing.
I could buy that but don’t want to check again. Using the “into the” part might still make this not work. WB went 5+ last start leaving after first 2 batters of 6th got on base, for example.
Could be any reason why the writer got sidetracked.
Cheap lottery ticket for Padres rotation depth.
If he is healthy and Ruben can work his magic with him, then
he could be another bounce back candidate and help the Padres
stay in the pennant race and become more competitive
with out torching their bullpen.
I expect a trade 1 or 2 for starters anytime from now to the deadline.
I feel like that’s a steal
Great signing. Preller once again finds a pitcher needing to prove they are worth big bucks and pays below market price in a prove it deal (i.e. Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Martin Perez, Nick Martinez).
Rueben Niebla is the best pitching coach in baseball, it’s no coincidence that SD is where Buehler, Marquez & Giolito have all ended up. Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Nick Martinez, Pierce Johnson, Robert Suarez before them, Niebla is a huge draw.
Does he have groupies? Asking for a friend
Lee Hacksaw Hamilton here, Big News regarding Padres MLB Trade Rumors is reporting Lucas Giolito has signed with the Padres. I got 10 phone lines open at Blacks Beach. Sound off.
When we come back, This just in off the high speed sports wire. Could the Chargers be moving to back to Mission Valley? Back in a minute
You have any pics to post?
Get Coach Kentera in here to verify this caller or I’m mad-dialing the Mighty 690 to complain about Rod Luck for no particular reason
@Gwynning. I went to an Angels/Padres game @ Petco a few years ago.I think I saw Jon Kentera there. I used to listen to him on Mighty 690 later 1090 while working swing shift in the OC. Great memories. Steve Mason used to be on after Hacksaw.
Good times sir!
The Cubs wouldn’t top this meager contract? They’re depending on Boyd, Rea and Assad giving 140-160 innings this year. What?
The Nickels family cant afford such a tremendous outlay
Jed rather pay Carlson n McCormick 2 million or so to jusy kick it it Iowa
Interesting. A couple weeks ago they had no interest. Now they sign him. Was the enormous drop in the asking price the reason? He wanted a multi-year deal at $20 million during the offseason and turned down his end of a $19 million option to stay in Boston. The Padres get him for $3 million? Is Preller a negotiator with mad skills or did Giolito just not have any value in the market?
Heading to the Coors Field now, so only a minute or two to comment. My understanding is Matt Riccato at CAA reached out to Preller yesterday saying Giolito only wanted to play for a contending team, sent over tapes of his workouts, and asked if the Padres had any interest. Up to that point the Padres had not attended any of those workouts and other than in the media reports, had shown no interest mostly because of his asking price.
At $3 million instead of the $16-20 million Giolito was asking for up until recently, I can understand why Preller pulled the trigger. Even if he doesn’t pan out, it costs the team little. If another starter gets injured he provides good depth.
Can never have enough arms…
Without even checking… Luca Giolito’s agent is Scott Boras isn’t he?
No. Check next time.
They jinxed Buehler!
So that’s what he’s worth…
Low risk, medium to high reward. So, yeah, take a shot with Gio. Won’t be the first veteran SP who got a new life after seemingly being written off by the other 29 MLB clubs. As I recall, there was no ground surge to sign Canning last year. Mets took a shot and Canning was pretty good for them before he injured his Achilles. It would be nice if the Padre bats heated up. Thought a trip to Coors would be the elixir that got it going. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Yuck!