The San Diego Padres on Wednesday signed veteran right-hander Lucas Giolito to a one-year contract that includes a mutual option for 2027. The move adds depth to a San Diego rotation that has withstood injuries to Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove and Griffin Canning already this season.
Giolito will start with game action at Single-A Lake Elsinore, where he’ll build toward joining the Padres. There’s no set timeline for a callup, per a source, but the right-hander’s contract dictates that he’ll need to be added to the roster within 25 days.
That Giolito’s free agency extended into the regular season was a surprise, although he had drawn interest from the Cubs in addition to the Padres earlier this month.