The Arizona Diamondbacks have spoken to free agent starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported on Friday.
The Diamondbacks went into the offseason with starting pitching as their top priority, and Zac Gallen rejected his qualifying offer earlier this week.
Giolito is coming off a solid season with the Boston Red Sox, delivering 145 innings with a 3.41 ERA, 4.17 FIP and 1.29 WHIP. He missed all of 2024 with internal brace elbow surgery and made his return at the end of this past April.
The 31-year-old is a nine-year MLB veteran, having spent 2017-23 with the Chicago White Sox. His best stretch was 2019-21 when he received down ballot Cy Young votes in all three years.
After missing time, Giolito had his most productive season since then with the Red Sox. His pitch mix remained consistent, leaning heavily on a 93 mph four-seamer, a slider and a changeup. He drew 32% whiff rate with the slider, his put-away pitch, while opponents hit .194 off his changeup.
He put the ball in play more often than he had in the past, as his strikeout rate dropped to a career-low 19.7%.
Giolito was really good over the final three months of the regular season with a 3.02 ERA in his final 15 games, but he missed the playoffs with an elbow injury. According to MassLive.com, “One source with knowledge of Giolito’s situation described him as “100%” … a different league source said the righty is “making improvements” with his throwing timeline set to be guided by his offseason ramp-up.”
Projections are a bit mixed on his value.
Spotrac lists him at three years, $61.3 million. The Athletic’s Tim Britton suggested he land a three-year deal worth $57 million. MLB Trade Rumors was not so optimistic with two years and $32 million.
Giolito declined a $19 million mutual option for 2026.
Through free agency or trade, the Diamondbacks are looking for ways to fill the rotation around Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson and Eduardo Rodriguez. The club has dipped into the free agent starting pitcher market over the past two offseasons, signing Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery and Corbin Burnes to lucrative deals. Burnes is working back from Tommy John surgery and hopes to be back by the All-Star break.
