Padres Predicted to Sign $61 Million All-Star Pitcher to Bolster Rotation

Former Cy Young candidate Lucas Giolito would join Michael King and Nick Pivetta in San Diego's starting staff.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:10pm

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The San Diego Padres are predicted to sign free agent starting pitcher Lucas Giolito to a three-year, $61 million contract. Giolito, a former All-Star and Cy Young candidate, would help reinforce the Padres' starting rotation alongside Michael King and Nick Pivetta.

Why it matters

The Padres struggled to improve their starting pitching this offseason, losing Dylan Cease and failing to replace him. Signing Giolito would give them a proven veteran arm to solidify the back end of their rotation and provide more depth and consistency.

The details

Last season, the 31-year-old Giolito posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and a 1.290 WHIP over 145 innings pitched. While his advanced metrics show some inconsistency, he has a track record of winning games and providing a decent ERA - two key attributes for a middle-to-end of rotation starter.

  • Giolito remains unsigned this far into the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Lucas Giolito

A 31-year-old free agent starting pitcher who made the All-Star team in 2019 and has been a Cy Young candidate in the past.

Michael King

The Padres' top starting pitcher who will anchor the rotation.

Nick Pivetta

Another key member of the Padres' starting rotation.

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What they’re saying

“It is, frankly, absurd that Lucas Giolito remains unsigned. There are understandable concerns about his consistency at this point, but the 31-year-old made 26 starts and pitched 145 innings with a 3.41 ERA last season. He outperformed his metrics, no doubt, but in a league starved for even semi-reliable pitching depth, you could do a lot worse than Giolito as the fourth and fifth leg of your rotation.”

— Christopher Kline, FanSided Writer

What’s next

The Padres will need to finalize contract negotiations with Giolito and get him signed before the start of the 2026 regular season.

The takeaway

Signing Giolito would be a savvy move for the Padres, providing them with a proven veteran starter to solidify the back end of their rotation and give them more depth and consistency on the mound. Even with some concerns about his consistency, Giolito's track record of winning and providing decent ERAs makes him an attractive target for a Padres team looking to bolster its pitching staff.