The San Diego Padres are in a bit of a tough spot right now, as they need a star pitcher to replace Dylan Cease, who left in free agency, but they are kind of short on money at the moment. While they did get Walker Buehler and German Marquez, they still don’t have a pitcher who went through 2025 with a decent season.
Fansided’s Robert Murray believes the Padres can find their answer in a former All-Star Lucas Giolito. He would an arm that performed well in 2025, and he could probably be bought on a discount.
“The Padres have already signed Griffin Canning, Walker Buehler and German Marquez, but Giolito is in a different category. He adds a potential top-half-of-the-rotation arm to the mix with nine seasons of experience. He would further bolster a rotation that team executive A.J. Preller has set out to improve this winter. Does Preller have the funds necessary to get a deal done? We’ll see. He was creative in structuring Nick Pivetta’s deal last winter. Who says he can’t do it again? If he does, Giolito would be the cherry on top of an impressive offseason yet again for Preller and Co. despite financial constraints,” Kline wrote.
Giolito finished 2025 with a 10-4 record, a 3.41 ERA, 121 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.290 over 145 innings pitched. He would replace Cease’s spot in the rotation, and fill out the front end quite nicely.
Giolito’s projected to receive a three-year, $61 million deal, but considering it’s so close to Opening Day and his market has received no interest, he could probably get acquired on a bargain. And for a money-conscious team like San Diego, that could be perfect.
Hopefully, the Padres get to work soon, as there are other equally desperate teams in need of an arm as well.
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