Lucas Giolito, Padres Agree to Contract After Red Sox Stint, Updated Starting Rotation Revealed

The San Diego Padres signed starting pitcher Lucas Giolito in free agency on Wednesday.

Giolito received a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported details on the financial terms:

Here is a look at where he will fit into the starting rotation:

• Michael King
• Randy Vásquez
• Walker Buehler
• Matt Waldron
• Lucas Giolito

Giolito became a free agent on Nov. 4, declining the player side of the mutual option on his contract with the Boston Red Sox.

He's coming off an encouraging 2025 campaign on the Red Sox, posting a 10-4 record in 26 starts to go along with a 3.41 ERA and 1.290 WHIP. Giolito also racked up 121 strikeouts in 145 innings of work.

Opposing batters hit just .239 with a .685 OPS against him as well.

Giolito particularly excelled down the stretch of the season, owning a 2.83 ERA over his final 10 starts. He wasn't able to make an appearance in the postseason for Boston due to an elbow injury, though.

Giolito's 2025 campaign still represented a resurgent performance for the 31-year-old, as he missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing an internal brace surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow.

He struggled prior to the procedure, posting a 4.89 ERA across 63 starts from 2022-23 while suiting up for three different teams over that span.

Now, Giolito will be looking to build upon his 2025 season and remain a key rotation piece with another change of scenery.