Lucas Giolito entered the offseason as one of the better starting pitchers available in MLB free agency outside of high-cost arms. He remains a free agent about a month into the 2026 season, but that could change soon.
MLB insider Robert Murray wrote for FanSided that he believes the San Diego Padres are the best fit for Giolito. San Diego is also one of two clubs that were recently linked to the veteran hurler.
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San Diego is currently operating with a bit of a patchwork rotation. German Marquez and Walker Buehler have been placed in roles as back-end starters, with both veterans facing even more pressure to pitch innings now that Nick Pivetta has joined Joe Musgrove on the injured list.
Unfortunately for San Diego, the return timeline for neither Pivetta nor Musgrove is promising. Pivetta, who started on Opening Day, has been diagnosed with a flexor strain that will keep him from throwing for at least a month. There is no timetable for his return and he may not be able to pitch again in 2026.
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Musgrove, who missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, initially looked like he might rejoin the Padres rotation in late May. However, the club reported that he was in "a bit of a holding pattern" in early March and a month later he still has not pitched off a mound.
Giolito, who pitched 145 innings for the Boston Red Sox last season, recently said he has increased his pitch count to 75 pitches so far. However, given the poor track record of starting pitchers signing at the end of the season, it would be a risk for San Diego to sign him as well.
