New Report Has Two Teams Vying for Top Available Free Agent Lucas Giolito

Rotations around the majors have started to feel the effects of the injury bug. It's hit harder in some places than others. And while a team like the Toronto Blue Jays has gone out and signed Patrick Corbin and his 5.50 ERA over the last five years, somehow Lucas Giolito is still a free agent.

Giolito made a nice comeback from elbow surgery in 2025 with the Boston Red Sox. He posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA last year, though he missed the postseason due to late-season right elbow irritation/flexor strain. However, the veteran reported being fully healthy and recovered by November.

Why Giolito, 31, is still out on the market is a mystery to many, but it appears that the right-hander has two frontrunners in line for his services, over two weeks into the baseball season.

According to Patrick Mooney, Ken Rosenthal, Dennis Lin and Sahadev Sharma in The Athletic, two teams with injury-riddled rotations are in the mix.

The Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres are eyeing right-hander Lucas Giolito, league sources told The Athletic on Tuesday, monitoring the situation involving a one-time All-Star who remains a free agent in the middle of April.

The Cubs have two members of their starting staff out of action. Last year's rookie sensation Cade Horton is likely done for the year, while Matthew Boyd has been out with a strained left biceps. In addition, Justin Steele is still well over a month away from any potential return.

In San Diego, last year's Cy Young contender Nick Pivetta has gone on the shelf, while Joe Musgrove won't make his season debut until late this month. Yu Darvish, as we know, is out for the year.

Giolito offers hint why he's not signed yet

As for Giolito, who declined his end of a $19 million mutual option with the Red Sox after last season, he's not sure why he hasn't been signed yet.

“The last few months have been very strange,” Giolito said. “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." And therein could be the issue. Is there a team that's willing to give Giolito close to $19 million?

We'll see if either the Cubs or Padres are willing to offer that up.