Lucas Giolito Signs One-Year Contract To Fortify Padres' Rotation

The San Diego Padres have a new weapon in the starting rotation.

Right-handed starter Lucas Giolito, one of the top free agents entering the offseason, has signed a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027, the team announced Wednesday. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported the deal was worth $3 million for 2026.

Giolito signed a two-year, $38.5 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2024 and remained a free agent because he didn't want to take a bargain deal.

 

 

 

 

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Right-handed reliever Bryan Hoeing, who is out for the season following elbow surgery, was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL to make room on the Padres' 40-man roster.

The 31-year-old Southern California native is likely to take over the rotation spot vacated by Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta, who is on the 15-day injured list with a strained right flexor. Pivetta is expected to miss a significant amount of time this season.

Giolito had said recently that he had been staying in shape with 75-pitch bullpen sessions, but it is likely that he will need at least a couple of starts in the minors to get into game shape. He has been assigned to Low-A Lake Elsinore and must be added to the MLB roster by May 16, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Right-hander Matt Waldron is currently occupying Pivetta's spot in the rotation, but he got rocked in his season debut. Waldron's next start is scheduled for April 23 against the Colorado Rockies.

Born in Santa Monica and an alum of Harvard-Westlake High School, Giolito had three straight top-11 finishes in AL Cy Young Award (2019-21). In 2025 with the Boston Red Sox, Giolito made 26 starts and had a 4.17 FIP (3.41 ERA) with a 9.1% walk rate and 19.7% strikeout rate. That came after missing all of 2024 with UCL surgery on his right elbow, a good bounce back in his first season back.

Eventually, Giolito will join a rotation of all right-handers: Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Walker Buehler, German Marquez and Waldron. Giolito will provide another experienced arm, possibly putting Waldron's roster spot in jeopardy. While the rotation is in good shape, there is little depth behind this group. Right-hander Griffin Canning is currently on a rehab assignment following last year's Achilles injury and will need to be activated in the next couple weeks.

The signing also comes less than a week after the Padres' reported sale agreement with Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones for a record $3.9 billion. The prospective new owners likely played little role in this transaction; the Padres have been tied to Giolito since the offseason.