Padres' Lucas Giolito makes Cubs and other MLB teams look foolish for free agent decision

Aug 26, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres are one of the best teams in Major League Baseball so far in 2026, with their 28-18 record just a half-game back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

While the Padres need a lot more offensive output from players like Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill, the starting rotation might have been the biggest need.

But, maybe not anymore, thanks to Lucas Giolito. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com shared how Giolito's start to his stint with the Padres is just what the Padres wanted, and should be something that makes MLB clubs question their decision-making.

Lucas Giolito's production should make MLB clubs question their FA decision

"If Lucas Giolito pitches like this, there are going to be a lot of teams wondering why they didn't sign him," Cassavell writes.

Giolito made his debut for the Padres against the Seattle Mariners, and looking at his statistics, it's a wonder why teams should regret missing on Giolito so much.

He allowed three runs in five innings of work, which is a 5.40 ERA, and not really impressive. But that's not nearly enough context for this outing.

He had a one-hit shutout with three strikeouts through five innings of work before being sent out in the sixth and allowing three straight walks.

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Add in that the Padres went up 7-0 in the top-half of the sixth, and Giolito's pitch count wasn't high at all with 58 pitches entering the sixth, and his sixth-inning struggles aren't actually that bad.

A team like the Chicago Cubs, that desperately needs more starting pitching help, should've been all over signing Giolito. There are surely other clubs that could've used Giolito as well.

But the Padres brought in the former Boston Red Sox starter and have already reaped the benefits. If Giolito can pitch as he did through the first five innings of that Mariners game, then there are going to be a lot of teams regretting their decision to pass on Giolito.

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