Lucas Giolito's free agency saga has finally come to an end.
After being one of the top-rated free agents heading into the 2026 season, his offseason was relatively sparse. Despite interest from several clubs, his agents could not find a preferred number at any time in the offseason.
That changed this morning, as the San Diego Padres announced the signing of Giolito on the X. The move is a way for the Friars to strengthen their rotation after Nick Pivetta landed on the injured list for the indefinite future. He will be able to join the club around mid-May.
Giolito must be added to the roster within 25 days of his signing. Kevin Ace of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that he would begin his season with Low-A Lake Elsinore. This is likely so the Padres' coaching staff can evaluate him after the offseason. Giolito has stated on several occasions that he has been pitching throughout his vacation, but trainers would still like to check his stuff.
Salary implications for ascetics
It is reported that the contract is worth $3 million and is prorated. This means the Friars are only paying Giolito for the time he has spent with them (not for the portion of the season he has missed so far).
If that amount is correct, it would be a steal for San Diego. General manager AJ Preller has been overpaid in the past. Starting pitching is also at a premium in MLB, so it's surprising to see one of the top-rated free agent pitchers at $3 million by the end of April 22nd.
Giolito has been a great back-end option for the Boston Red Sox over the past few years. This culminated in a career-best 3.41 ERA in 2025. While there was speculation that this would not last long, their underlying metrics are painting a different picture. But the Padres (and their lack of starting pitching depth) are willing to take a gamble on the right-hander.
Over the years, he has battled countless injuries that have kept him off the field. The Padres are hoping to get a full, healthy season from Giolito. If that's the case, he'll be considered as a depth option for the rest of 2026. It's possible that once everyone is healthy he will stop rotating between the big and the small. But if Giolito competes well enough to earn a spot, the Friars will have no choice but to keep him.
