The San Diego Padres signed free-agent right-hander Lucas Giolito to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2027, addressing a critical rotation need while tied for baseball’s best record.
Giolito, 31, will report to Single-A Lake Elsinore to build up his arm strength after missing the 2024 season due to ulnar collateral ligament surgery repaired with an internal brace. His contract requires him to be added to the major league roster within 25 days, though the Padres have not set a firm timeline for his debut.
The Padres’ rotation entered the season already missing Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove, Griffin Canning, and Yu Darvish, who underwent elbow surgery last October and is expected to miss the entire year. Despite those absences, San Diego opened 16-7, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball and boasting the second-lowest team ERA in the majors at 3.22.
Giolito’s return in 2025 with the Boston Red Sox showed promise after a rocky start: he posted a 3.41 ERA over 26 starts, including a 2.51 ERA in his final 19 outings after an early 6.42 ERA in his first seven appearances. His fastball averaged 93.3 mph, consistent with prior seasons, and he relied on a slider, changeup, and sparingly used curveball.
Before signing with San Diego, Giolito had drawn interest from the Chicago Cubs and remained unsigned nearly a month into the regular season — a delay that surprised observers given his track record. He became a free agent after declining his half of a $19 million mutual option with the Red Sox, having previously agreed to a two-year, $38.5 million deal with Boston in January 2024.
Over nine major league seasons with the Nationals, White Sox, Angels, Guardians, and Red Sox, Giolito has a 71-66 record, 4.30 ERA, and 1.26 WHIP. He was an All-Star in 2019 and threw a no-hitter in 2020. From 2018 to 2025, he ranks among the top five American League pitchers in innings pitched (1,092), strikeouts (1,153), wins (68), and complete games (5).
For more on this story, see Seattle Mariners vs. San Diego Padres: MLB Live Stream and Schedule.
The Padres’ current rotation features Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Walker Buehler, Germán Márquez, and Matt Waldron, who took a turn after Pivetta’s injury but struggled in a loss to the Angels. General manager A.J. Preller accommodated the signing amid an ownership transition, as the family of late owner Peter Seidler nears a sale to billionaire Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones.
Padres manager Craig Stammen said Pivetta’s recovery from a right elbow flexor strain would be a matter of “weeks and maybe months,” leaving the club short-handed in the middle of the rotation despite strong performances from King and Vásquez at the top.
This follows our earlier report, Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres: How to Watch, Odds, and Prediction.
Musgrove, recovering from October 2024 Tommy John surgery, endured a setback during spring training and has not resumed throwing off a mound, further delaying the return of a pitcher once considered a cornerstone of the staff.
The timing of the signing highlights a tension: the Padres are winning at an elite level despite a rotation held together by short-term fixes and injury returnees, raising questions about how long their current performance can be sustained without additional reinforcements.
Why did Lucas Giolito remain unsigned for nearly a month into the 2026 season?
Sources do not specify a definitive reason for Giolito’s prolonged free agency, though interest from the Cubs and other teams was noted. His contract demands, timing relative to other signings, or medical caution from clubs may have contributed to the delay.
What is the mutual option in Giolito’s contract, and how does it work?
The deal includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, meaning either the Padres or Giolito can decline to extend the contract after the 2026 season, with both sides needing to agree for the option to be exercised.
