Lucas Giolito Throwing Roughly 75 Pitches In Side Sessions
Lucas Giolito is the most notable unsigned player in MLB. The veteran right-hander went unsigned throughout the offseason. There hasn’t been much in the way of public rumors, as reported ties to the Braves and Padres were rather quickly downplayed.
Giolito finished last season with the Red Sox on the injured list due to flexor irritation. That has led some fans to speculate about health as a potential explanation for his remaining unsigned. The free agent starter has maintained he’s fully healthy going back to November, however. He reiterated as much in an appearance on The Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast with WEEI’s Rob Bradford this week, saying he simply hasn’t found what he considers a worthwhile contract offer.
“I just want to play for close to what my value is,” Giolito told Bradford. “Everything is based on these models now. Everyone uses projection and models. My agency (CAA) does the same thing. When you look at models and projections (for value), it’s like ‘alright cool, give me something that’s relatively close to that.’ Let’s go and get it. I’m ready to go.”
The righty said he never felt particularly close to signing over the winter. “The last few months have been very strange. Talks seem like they’re heating up, then it’s like ‘ok never mind,'” he added. The full conversation is worth a listen, as Giolito discusses his free agent process and current training regimen.
He’s working at Cressey Sports Performance in Florida, as he has throughout the winter. He’s throwing around 75 pitches in each of his bullpen sessions. He implied he’s essentially in game shape and wouldn’t need much more of a buildup once he signs. “When I get the opportunity, do you want me to throw a game in Triple-A to get ready or put me right in (the majors) for five innings,” he asked rhetorically. “I’ll do whatever. I’m happy to do whatever once I get the opportunity to help a team.”
That has some parallels to the Blue Jays’ recent signing of Patrick Corbin. The southpaw was reportedly working around 80 pitches in his individual side sessions before Toronto picked him up last Friday. Corbin consented to an optional assignment and made one tuneup start in Low-A. The Jays recalled him today for his team debut. He started and went four innings and 85 pitches in his first MLB appearance.
Giolito could seemingly follow a similar path. It appears to be a financial hangup. Corbin signed a $1MM guarantee, barely north of the league minimum. If Giolito were willing to do that, he’d have been signed months ago. He’s surely not interested in signing for that little after posting a 3.41 ERA across 145 innings for Boston last season.
The former All-Star said he believes that early-season injuries and struggles around the league could increase interest, though he predictably declined to go into detail about which teams might be involved. The Astros, A’s, Angels, Padres and Tigers are among the teams that have had wobbly performances and/or health concerns in the early going.
Speculatively, Houston probably makes the most sense on paper. They’ve started 6-7 despite scoring the most runs in MLB. They’re down their top two starters, Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier, for multiple weeks due to shoulder strains. Tatsuya Imai hasn’t thrown strikes in his first three MLB starts. They’re moving to a six-man rotation despite having Mike Burrows and Lance McCullers Jr. as their two most reliable healthy starters. The Astros are around $12MM below the competitive balance tax threshold.
Padres Place Jeremiah Estrada On Injured List
The Padres placed reliever Jeremiah Estrada on the 15-day injured list minutes before tonight’s game against the Rockies. Jason Adam takes his place in the bullpen, as he has been reinstated from his own IL stint. Estrada is battling elbow tendinitis.
It’s the first roster move of the regular season for the Padres. San Diego’s Opening Day 26-man roster had been unchanged until tonight. They’ll swap out righty setup men at the back of Craig Stammen’s bullpen.
Estrada has been one of the better relievers in MLB over the past couple seasons. He combined for 134 frames of 3.22 ERA ball between 2024-25. Estrada fanned 36.3% of opposing hitters over that stretch, the sixth-best rate among relievers with at least 50 innings. Mason Miller, Edwin Díaz, Josh Hader, Aroldis Chapman and Devin Williams were the only pitchers who recorded higher strikeout rates. Estrada doesn’t get the same level of fanfare, in part because he hasn’t had many save opportunities, but he tied for fifth in MLB with 30 holds a year ago.
The righty hasn’t been as sharp this year. Estrada has allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits and walks apiece across seven innings. He has recorded eight strikeouts but his swinging strike rate has dropped four percentage points. Estrada’s average fastball has tumbled from 98 mph to 95. He indicated last night that he’d felt fine physically (link via Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune). The tendinitis diagnosis buys them some time to see if they can get him right physically and mechanically.
Adam is back from last year’s season-ending quad surgery. The righty suffered a tendon rupture in his left quad at the beginning of September. He’d hoped to make it back for Opening Day. Adam didn’t make his spring debut until a few days before the start of the regular season. The Padres shelved him to begin the year but immediately sent him on a rehab assignment to Triple-A El Paso. He fired five scoreless innings during his ramp-up, albeit with just one strikeout and a diminished 92.9 mph average fastball.
The IL swap delays a tough roster decision in an excellent San Diego bullpen. Ron Marinaccio is their eighth reliever on paper, but he’s out of options. He has tossed 7 2/3 frames of two-run ball to begin the season and would probably get claimed off waivers. Assuming they want to keep Kyle Hart in long relief, they’d either have needed to DFA Marinaccio or option one of David Morgan or Bradgley Rodriguez to create a bullpen spot for Adam.
Broncos’ Ownership Group Purchases Minority Share In Rockies
Penner Sports Group, a company run by the Penner family which owns the NFL’s Denver Broncos, has purchased a minority share in the Rockies. The MLB franchise announced the news this afternoon.
The Rockies specified only that the Penner investment made them the largest minority stakeholder under the Monfort family, which retains majority ownership. Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post provides specifics, reporting that the Penners are purchasing a 40% share of the franchise.
The team didn’t disclose the sale price, though Saunders writes that it’s believed to be around $672MM. The Rockies’ statement said the influx of cash allows them to “retire all outstanding debt while providing additional investment in the team.” It’s unclear if it’ll have any impact on player payrolls in the future. The Penners will remain focused on the Broncos and are not going to have daily responsibilities with the Rockies, Saunders reports.
Most of the major Denver sports franchises, the Broncos included, have been successful in recent years. The Rockies are coming off the first three 100-loss seasons in franchise history. They’ve had seven straight losing campaigns and dropped 119 games last year, tied for third-most in MLB history.
They’ve started this season respectably, going 6-7 while outscoring opponents by six runs, but are unlikely to be even a .500 club for some time. Colorado opened this season with a $117MM payroll, according to The Associated Press, the 21st-highest mark in the league. That’s down marginally from their $122MM season-opening figure in 2025.
Yankees Designate Cade Winquest For Assignment
April 10th: The Yanks have made it official, announcing that Gil has been recalled and Winquest has been designated for assignment.
April 9th: The Yankees are designating Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest for assignment, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The righty didn’t get into a game during his two weeks in New York’s bullpen.
That’ll evidently be the corresponding move for tomorrow’s recall of Luis Gil. Manager Aaron Boone said over the weekend that the Yankees would bring Gil up this week. He’s listed as the probable starter opposite Steven Matz for Friday’s series opener against the Rays. The 13-pitcher limit meant an arm from the MLB roster had to be squeezed out.
The Yankees had the luxury of running a four-man rotation for the first couple weeks based on their number of available off days. Gil joins Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers in the rotation. They needed to drop from nine to eight in the bullpen. Brent Headrick has pitched too well to be sent down. Jake Bird has been sharp as well aside from one ugly outing against Miami on Sunday. Fernando Cruz and Camilo Doval are their only other relievers with minor league options.
Rather than option a more trusted reliever in Bird, the Yankees move on from Winquest. The 25-year-old didn’t have a great spring, allowing nine runs (eight earned) with eight strikeouts and four walks across 10 innings. It was a surprise that he broke camp at all.
The Yankees clearly liked some of what they saw but didn’t find a scenario where Boone felt comfortable bringing him into a regular season game. Teams generally use Rule 5 picks as low-leverage relievers, especially early in the season before they’ve gained a manager’s trust. All four of New York’s losses have been by one run, games in which they could certainly have come back. They’ve had three blowout wins, but two came behind long outings from Fried and one followed an off day so the rest of the bullpen was fresh.
They’ll have five days to trade Winquest or place him on waivers. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll be offered back to the Cardinals. The former eighth-round pick had previously spent his entire career in the St. Louis organization. He has worked as a minor league starting pitcher and combined for a 3.99 ERA across 106 innings between High-A and Double-A last year. Unless another team is willing to keep him on the MLB roster, he’ll head back to his original club without requiring a spot on the 40-man roster for St. Louis.
Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript
Anthony Franco
- Good evening, hope you're all doing well!
- Looking forward to another of these, let's get it rolling
Guest
- Despite his low EVs and 1st percentile bat speed, Jacob Wilson's elite bat-to-ball skills helped him to compete for a batting title his rookie season. But so far in 2026 his hacktastic 'swing at everything' ways have gotten him a .196/.196/.255 slash line that has not been the result of bad luck. Given what he did in 2025 and what he is doing (in a 12 game sample) in 2026, what do you see for him as a hitter moving forward?
Anthony Franco
- Whiffs are up, relatively speaking, because he's really taking the 'swing at everything' approach to heart but it's a tiny sample and they're pressing up and down the lineup right now. Not worried about it and still think he's a true talent .300 hitter
- 13 homers again seems optimistic but 8-10 with 25 doubles is reasonable
Kevin Cash
- Is my job safe beyond 2026 if I can't right the ship for a 3rd straight year?
Anthony Franco
- They're the worst team in the AL East on paper and it's not like they've been disastrous over the past couple years. Unless new ownership just wants to shake things up, can't see why they wouldn't remain committed to Cash moving forward
Jordan
- I'm pleasantly surprised by the Braves start and if they're able to remain in the mix until the deadline who would be some realistic targets for them to go after that Profar money?
-
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Kansas City Officials Propose Royals’ Stadium Plan
The Royals have spent a few years trying to secure public funding towards a new stadium. Those efforts seem closer to reality. Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas announced this afternoon that his office has proposed an ordinance towards a $1.9 billion investment plan for a new stadium and surrounding infrastructure in the Washington Square Park area in downtown Kansas City. Sam McDowell and Kacen Bayless of The Kansas City Star first reported the news in a column which those in the area will want to read in full.
The proposal would authorize roughly $600MM in city funding towards the project. That’s independent of whatever money would come from the state. Last summer, Missouri passed a law that allows the state to fund up to 50% of major stadium construction projects.
That was geared not only towards the Royals but also the NFL’s Chiefs, who have sought a move out of Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs ultimately found what they consider a better deal with Kansas lawmakers. They announced in December they’ll proceed with plans to move over the state border in 2031 on a $3 billion domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.
Today’s news makes it seem there’s a decent chance the Royals will remain in Kansas City, Missouri. However, this is not any kind of binding arrangement. It’d still need approval from the City Council, to say nothing of an agreement from the Royals themselves.
The idea would be for the Royals to commit to a 30-year lease beginning in 2030. The team’s lease at Kauffman Stadium runs through 2030, but the mayor’s office evidently hopes to have the new stadium ready for play a year in advance. He told reporters this evening the hope is for construction to begin early in 2027.
The team has not formally weighed in on the terms. Owner John Sherman has generally voiced support for a downtown ballpark. The mayor tells The K.C. Star that this proposal was the result of “hours and hours of extensive discussion” with the team. Even if the Royals are on board with the city’s plans, the state’s contributions would still need to be sorted out. Notably, this proposal does not include plans for a public vote. In April 2024, Jackson County voters shot down a sales tax measure to fund Royals/Chiefs stadium projects via referendum.
The Royals have played at Kauffman Stadium since 1973. It’s the fifth-oldest active venue in MLB behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, and Angel Stadium.
A’s Notes: Rooker, Ginn, Perkins
The Athletics are sending Brent Rooker for imaging tomorrow, writes Martín Gallegos of MLB.com. The slugger gestured toward his right side/hip area on a foul ball in the first inning of today’s win over the Yankees. Rooker exited the game after a brief conversation with trainers and skipper Mark Kotsay.
The preliminary diagnosis is right flank discomfort. The obvious concern is a potential oblique strain. Those usually require multi-week absences for hitters. Even moderate oblique strains can cost more than a month. The A’s will have a better idea tomorrow whether that’s in play.
Rooker has had a tough start to the season. He’s hitting .146 with 17 strikeouts in 49 trips to the plate. He did have a monster game against the Astros on Sunday, slugging both of his home runs and driving in six of his eight total RBI. He capped that game with a three-run, walk-off shot in the tenth inning off Bryan Abreu.
If Rooker needs an injured list stint, infielder Zack Gelof seems the favorite to replace him on the roster. The A’s scratched him from today’s Triple-A lineup. Gelof has been on an absolute tear to begin the minor league season, hitting .366 with a .519 on-base mark and four home runs over 54 plate appearances.
Gelof is primarily a second baseman and has gotten some outfield work this spring and in the minors. If Rooker misses time, the A’s could give 34-year-old second baseman Jeff McNeil some DH reps. Gelof or Carlos Cortes could grab some extra right field work if the A’s want to mix in a few semi-rest days for Lawrence Butler after last fall’s knee surgery.
The A’s took two of three from the Yankees this week. They’re staying in New York for a weekend set against the Mets. Former Mets draftee J.T. Ginn will start tomorrow’s series opener against Clay Holmes. It’ll be Ginn’s first start of the season after three relief appearances. The A’s needed a new fifth starter after optioning struggling righty Luis Morales earlier in the week. Ginn is seemingly getting the first opportunity.
Jack Perkins was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas before Thursday’s game, with Michael Kelly optioned out in a corresponding move. Perkins is up for the first time this season and seemingly ticketed for the long relief role which Ginn had played. The righty has worked 7 2/3 innings over three Triple-A appearances this year, striking out nine but issuing seven walks. Perkins started four of his first 12 big league outings last season. He turned in a 4.19 earned run average through 38 2/3 frames.
Angels Re-Sign Joey Lucchesi To Minor League Deal
The Angels announced they’ve re-signed lefty reliever Joey Lucchesi to a minor league contract. He’ll be assigned to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Lucchesi was designated for assignment over the weekend when the Halos needed a roster spot to promote George Klassen as a spot starter. He cleared waivers and elected free agency. After a brief return to the open market, he’ll circle back to the Halos. That’s a common outcome for veterans who have the service time to refuse an outright assignment.
The 32-year-old southpaw had a very brief stint with the MLB club. He signed a major league contract at the end of Spring Training and made three appearances. Lucchesi allowed five of six hitters to reach in his season debut. He followed up with a pair of scoreless outings but walked at least one batter in all of his appearances. He wound up issuing five free passes (four walks and a hit batter) across 2 1/3 innings.
Lucchesi spent last season with the Giants. He opened the year in Triple-A but was called up in the middle of June. He remained on the active roster for the final three and a half months, turning in a 3.76 ERA over 38 1/3 innings. Lucchesi got grounders at a 53% clip but had a modest 18.8% strikeout rate that led the Giants to drop him from the 40-man roster at season’s end. He returned on a minor league contract for Spring Training and was granted his release when the Giants picked up Ryan Borucki late in camp.
Drew Pomeranz and Brent Suter are locked into Kurt Suzuki’s bullpen as veteran southpaws. The Halos recently recalled a third lefty, Mitch Farris, as a long reliever. Farris will probably be up and down from Triple-A throughout the season. Tayler Saucedo and Angel Perdomo are also in the organization on minor league deals.
Pirates Outright Enmanuel Valdez
The Pirates sent utility infielder Enmanuel Valdez outright to Triple-A Indianapolis, per the MLB.com transaction log. He evidently cleared waivers after being designated for assignment when the Bucs called up Konnor Griffin last week.
Pittsburgh acquired Valdez from Boston over the 2024-25 offseason in a DFA trade that sent minor league pitcher Joe Vogatsky to the Sox. He spent a month as Pittsburgh’s primary first baseman while Spencer Horwitz was working back from wrist surgery. Valdez hit .209/.294/.363 across 31 games before sustaining a season-ending dislocation of his left shoulder, which required surgery.
Valdez is healthy but no longer had much of a path to playing time on the Pittsburgh infield. Horwitz has established himself as the primary first baseman. They acquired Brandon Lowe to play second and have Griffin up at shortstop. Third base is still a question mark, especially with Jared Triolo shelved by a knee injury, but Valdez had dropped below Nick Yorke and Nick Gonzales on the infield depth chart.
The 27-year-old Valdez owns a .230/.288/.392 batting line in a little less than 500 MLB plate appearances. He didn’t hit during Spring Training and is out to an 0-10 start with five punchouts through four Triple-A games. He doesn’t have the service time or previous career outright to elect free agency. Valdez will remain at Indianapolis, where he’d begun the season on optional assignment, and try to shake off the rust offensively. He’d qualify for minor league free agency at the end of the season if the Bucs don’t add him back to the 40-man roster.
Diamondbacks Re-Sign Joe Ross To Minor League Deal
The Diamondbacks re-signed righty Joe Ross to a minor league contract. He has been assigned to Triple-A Reno, where he’s back in action.
Ross had a brief stay on the open market after electing free agency earlier in the week. Arizona had designated him for assignment. It’s common for veterans in his position to decline an outright assignment but re-sign on a new minor league deal. Those can come with a higher minor league salary or opt-out/upward mobility opportunities that might not have been present had they accepted the outright.
The 32-year-old Ross broke camp in a long relief role after signing a minor league contract in February. He worked a perfect inning in his season debut but was knocked around over the next two appearances. Ross gave up six runs without getting through an inning against the Tigers on March 30. He surrendered three walks and a Mauricio Dubón homer in a blowout loss to Atlanta two days later.
Ross has plenty of starting experience but has worked as a multi-inning reliever for the past year-plus. He posted a 5.12 ERA across 51 innings out of the Philadelphia bullpen last season. Ross worked in relief of pitching prospect Mitch Bratt tonight in his first appearance with Reno. He gave up six hits and four runs, including a two-run homer to Trey Mancini, across 2 1/3 frames.