Padres rumor has 4.30 ERA All-Star free agent pitcher as 'inevitable' signing

Sep 6, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres are one of the best teams in Major League Baseball this season, and they're currently tied atop the NL West with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

While they're in such a good spot through the first 23 games of the season, the Padres still have some major uncertainty with their starting rotation. They could use another starter.

That need has Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reporting that the Padres and a 4.30 ERA All-Star pitcher are an "inevitable marriage" in free agency. That pitcher is veteran starter and top remaining free agent Lucas Giolito.

Padres linked to Lucas Giolito in 'inevitable marriage'

"FWIW, have heard from some people in the industry who think Lucas Giolito and the Padres is an inevitable marriage that could take shape soon," Cotillo reports.

While nothing is official, and there hasn't been any reporting that Giolito is nearing a deal, this report from Cotillo does open the door to the veteran righty coming to San Diego in the near future.

Last season, he posted a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts with a 10-4 record and a 2.1 bWAR season. A starter like that still being available a few weeks into the regular season is a big surprise.

The Padres could take this chance and pound, adding Giolito and adding much-needed depth to their rotation with the injuries to Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove providing some uncertainty in the rotation.

More: Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece

He would most likely take over for Walker Buehler, who has a 4.58 ERA for the Padres so far this season. German Marquez might also be replaced, though his 3.86 ERA isn't too bad.

Randy Vasquez and Michael King have been great this season, but the depth is a bit of a question. Adding the top pitcher available in free agency would make a ton of sense for A.J. Preller's team this season.

Cotillo's report indicates that many within the MLB industry are anticipating Giolito to join the Padres soon. That would be a nice pickup for San Diego, as they'd be bolstering the weakest part of the roster and further pushing for an NL West title.

More MLB news:

• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career
• Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award
• Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
• Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade