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MLB rumors: Cubs, Padres among teams interested in Lucas Giolito amid injuries
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- MLB rumors: Cubs, Padres among teams interested in Lucas Giolito amid injuries
MLB rumors: Cubs, Padres among teams interested in Lucas Giolito amid injuries appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Free agent starting pitcher Lucas Giolito has been without a team to start the 2026 Major League Baseball season. His days as a free agent may soon be over, though. At least two teams are rumored to be interested in signing Giolito, per The Athletic.
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Those two teams are the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres , who are both dealing with pitching injuries. Both of those National League clubs made the postseason in 2025.
"The last few months have been very strange," Giolito said on "Baseball Isn't Boring," and reported by The Athletic. "Talks seem like they're heating up, and then it's like, 'Oh, OK, never mind.' I just want to play for close to what my value is."
Pitching with the Boston Red Sox in 2025, Giolito made 26 starts. He finished the regular season with a 3.41 ERA. Boston made the MLB Playoffs, before losing to the New York Yankees in a Wild Card series.
Padres, Cubs are looking for pitching
The Cubs have been rattled with injuries early in the season to their pitching staff.
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"While Matthew Boyd (strained left biceps) is nearing a return, doctors advised Cade Horton to have season-ending surgery on his right elbow. Two high-leverage relievers, Phil Maton (right knee tendinitis) and Hunter Harvey (right triceps inflammation), are also sidelined, putting more pressure on the entire pitching staff," the outlet reported.
San Diego meanwhile is also concerned about injuries to the rotation. The Padres hurler Nick Pivetta left the team's recent game against the Colorado Rockies with elbow stiffness.
There's an issue in San Diego, though, that may keep the Padres from signing Giolito.
"The Padres' interest in Giolito, meanwhile, may be complicated by the final stages of the franchise's ongoing sale process, which could limit the baseball operations department's financial flexibility," The Athletic added.
Giolito has a 4.30 career ERA, with 71 victories.
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