Cubs eyeing Lucas Giolito as trade deadline nears |
Dustin Riese
· · 19 hours ago
When the reports surfaced that the Cubs are not only open for business, but it appears that most teams aren't in sell mode yet, it was a kick to the gut. For a team that has been playing well this season despite the holes, the Cubs are facing adversity for the first time this season and could use some massive reinforcements as the season goes on.
One of the major needs for this team is to acquire one, if not two, starting pitchers, as their rotation has been plagued by far too many injuries this season. Ideally, you would love for the Cubs to go out and get an ace, but with Chris Sale and Jacob DeGrom off the market, and a struggling Sandy Alcantara, finding an ace may not be as easy as it once was. That alone will force the Cubs to get extremely creative on the trade front, as their scouting department will be put to the test when it comes to finding value in potential targets. Mitch Keller and Merrill Kelly are great options for the Cubs, as are Edward Cabrera, as those are the names that continue to be most frequently linked to the Cubs. However, as expected, new trade targets are emerging as it appears the Cubs are now conducting their due diligence on Boston Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito, with the deadline approaching. What makes this even more interesting is that the Cubs open up the second half of the season with a series against the Red Sox, so there is a chance the Cubs could see firsthand what Giolito has to offer and if he has anything left in the tank for a playoff run. Told the Cubs have their eyes on Lucas Giolito, but thus far it there is no indication the Red Sox are ready to make any more significant trades. He’s 5-1 with a 3.66 ERA Giolito has had an interesting baseball career, as his best days came as a member of the White Sox, where he was the ace of their staff for several seasons. The now 30-year-old spent seven seasons with the White Sox, winning at least 10 games in four of those seasons, including a career high 14 wins in 2019, when he posted a 3.41 ERA. He followed that up with back-to-back 11-9 seasons in 2021 and 2022, where he posted an ERA of 3.53 in 2021 and then 4.07 in 2022. The 2021 season is especially noteworthy as that was the last time the White Sox made the playoffs, and his performance on the mound was a massive reason for that. Despite his success on the mound for an extended period of time, things haven't gone as planned since leaving the White Sox, leading many to believe that his days as a reliable starter were long gone. Across 12 starts for the Angels and Guardians in 2023, Giolito struggled to get anything done as he went a combined 2-9 with an ERA north of 6.00. That alone was all the information teams needed to see to pass on him for a multi-year deal, as he was forced to settle for a one-year contract with Boston this past offseason. What was seen as a flyer deal when it was announced has turned into a steal, as Giolito has not only been a steady force in the Red Sox rotation but has now emerged as a potential middle-to-back-of-the-rotation arm on the trade market. So far in 2025, Giolito has made 13 starts, going 6-1 in those starts with a 3.36 ERA, his lowest since the 2019 season. Keep in mind he has done this coming off Tommy John surgery that saw him miss all of 2024, as he appears to be rounding back into top form. Although he may not be the strikeout pitcher he once was, with 64 punchouts, his 21 walks are living proof that his command is back, as he has had to become a different pitcher since his surgery. Not the 95 MPH thrower as he was before, Giolito can still be in the 93-94 MPH range, which is good enough to get batters out in today's league. However, it's a change-up/slider combination that has been and will continue to be his bread and butter, as both pitches have been out pitches when he's on. Keep an eye on more rumors to start popping up for the Cubs as we are getting into the meat of the trade season. It will be interesting to see how seriously the Cubs take these rumors and how quickly they act to address the roster improvements needed for the stretch run.
