There remain several big names on the free agent market for the San Diego Padres to consider. As of today, the NL West squad has two openings in its starting rotation.
Dylan Cease signed a seven-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, and Yu Darvish will miss the entire 2026 season, undergoing UCL brace surgery in November.
Are Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez viable options? Or will Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller fill those holes with veterans who will command less money?
The Padres could consider Lucas Giolito
One veteran pitcher Preller could consider targeting is right-hander Lucas Giolito. He missed the 2024 season rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery and spent this past season with the Boston Red Sox.
"The Padres have payroll constraints, and because of that, they had to sacrifice fan favorites to stay financially afloat," wrote Will Lockwood of Friars on Base. "More difficult decisions may come with guys like Luis Arráez and Jake Cronenworth. However, signing Giolito may provide the team with leeway in bringing at least one of the two back."
Giolito, 31, has landed on the injured list eight times since the beginning of the 2019 season with the Chicago White Sox. He went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA and 121 strikeouts compared to 56 walks in 145 innings last year.
More Padres news:
- Mets trade proposal sends Jonah Tong, Carson Benge and others to Padres for three players, including Mason Miller
- Insider confirms ‘some intriguing talk’ about Padres trading Mason Miller
- Padres reportedly shopping $80 million fan favorite during MLB offseason
- Padres' Yu Darvish uncertain he'll pitch again in Major Leagues
- Padres receive $57 million Michael King contract projection from ESPN insider
- Padres' Jake Cronenworth gets trade update from ESPN insiders