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Padres' Lucas Giolito: Inks one-year deal with Padres
Rotowire
The Padres signed Giolito to a one-year contract Wednesday.
He'll earn a prorated $3 million, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The deal also includes a mutual option for 2027 that could feature a sizable buyout. Giolito posted a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 regular-season innings for the Red Sox in 2025. Elbow soreness prevented Giolito from being available for the postseason, but he had a normal offseason throwing program and said earlier this month on Audacy's Baseball Isn't Boring podcast that he's been maintaining a pitch count of around 75 during live batting practice sessions. Per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, Giolito will be assigned to Single-A Lake Elsinore, where he will knock off some rust before eventually joining the San Diego rotation.
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Lucas Giolito: Could link up with Padres soon
Rotowire
Giolito and the Padres "is an inevitable marriage that could take shape soon," Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
It was reported last week that the Padres and Cubs were among the teams with serious interest in Giolito, and it sounds like San Diego is leading the pack. With Nick Pivetta (forearm) and Joe Musgrove (elbow) sidelined, Giolito is a clear fit. The right-hander has been throwing on his own, noting earlier this month that he's been maintaining a pitch count of around 75 in live batting practice sessions. That said, Giolito would surely still need at least a start or two in the minors before being deemed big-league ready. The 31-year-old posted a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 regular-season innings for the Red Sox in 2025.
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Lucas Giolito: Interest from Cubs, Padres
Rotowire
The Cubs and Padres are interested in potentially signing Giolito, Patrick Mooney, Ken Rosenthal, Dennis Lin and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.
The right-hander was unable to land a contract during the offseason after posting a 3.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 121:56 K:BB across 145 regular-season innings with Boston last year. The numbers look solid on the surface, but his xERA (5.06), xBA (.265) and average exit velocity allowed (90.3 mph) all ranked in the 22nd percentile or worse. If he does reach a deal, Giolito will need at least a few weeks to build up before being ready for MLB action.
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Lucas Giolito: Keeping stamina up
Rotowire
Giolito said Friday on Audacy's Baseball Isn't Boring podcast that he's been maintaining a pitch count of around 75 during live batting practice sessions.
Giolito remains unsigned but is keeping his stamina up so that it won't take him long to be game ready if a big-league team comes calling. The 31-year-old posted a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 regular-season innings for the Red Sox in 2025. Elbow soreness prevented Giolito from being available for the postseason, but he had a normal offseason throwing program and could sign at any time.
Giolito is not getting much interest as a free agent, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Despite some of the typical attrition among starting pitchers around the league this spring, Giolito remains a free agent without much prospect of landing a deal. Rosenthal specifically explained Atlanta's lack of interest despite injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) and Hurston Waldrep (elbow), suggesting the team would rather give players already on the roster without remaining minor-league options the chance to make the roster. Rosenthal also speculated that Giolito is seeking at least $10 million per season in a deal, though that request could come down with Opening Day coming up fast.
Red Sox's Lucas Giolito: Fully recovered from elbow injury
Rotowire
Giolito said Saturday in an appearance on Audacy's "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast that he began his offseason throwing program in mid-October and is fully recovered from the right elbow injury that ended his season in late September.
The right-hander came down with right elbow soreness at the end of the regular season and was unavailable to pitch in the playoffs for the Red Sox. However, Giolito noted that "within three days, my elbow felt 100 percent fine again," and "whatever injury there was, it's gone." Giolito is entering free agency, and assuming his medicals check out fine, he should receive plenty of interest on the open market. The 31-year-old held a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 innings for Boston in 2025.
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Red Sox's Lucas Giolito: Declines mutual option
Rotowire
Giolito (elbow) declined the player side of his $19 mutual option for 2026 on Monday, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports.
He'll be paid a $1.5 million buyout instead. It's possible the Red Sox will extend Giolito a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, and if that happens, there's a non-zero chance the right-hander accepts it. After missing the 2024 season following internal brace surgery, Giolito had a nice bounce-back 2025 campaign, posting a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 frames. However, his season ended in late September with elbow soreness, and while he was cleared of structural damage, the injury could affect his earnings potential this offseason.
Red Sox's Lucas Giolito: Unlikely to pitch this postseason
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that while Giolito's right elbow injury is not as bad as the team feared it might be, the hurler is unlikely to be available at any point during the postseason, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Giolito seems to have been cleared of any structural damage after a visit with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, but the right-hander needs extended rest, so he's done for the season even if the Red Sox make a deep postseason run. It's poor timing for the Red Sox and also Giolito, who will enter free agency this winter. Giolito had a nice bounce-back 2025 campaign, posting a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 frames, but he'll head into the free-agent market with health questions.
Red Sox's Lucas Giolito: Out for wild card with elbow issue
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Giolito is dealing with a right elbow injury and will not be on the team's American League Wild Card Series roster against the Yankees, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
If healthy, Giolito would have started a potential Game 3. Instead, he is headed to visit with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, who performed the right-hander's March 2024 internal brace surgery. More clarity on Giolito's possible availability for later playoff rounds could be available following that exam. Connelly Early would now seem to be the favorite to start a potential Game 3 against the Yankees, though Cora declined Monday to divulge who would pitch that contest.
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