The Chicago Cubs had a solid offseason, landing one of the biggest fish in the free agent pond in third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year, $175 million contract. The Cubs also added Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Miami Marlins.
However, the North Siders may not be done just yet. They are off to a bit of a slow start, but are still looking for ways to improve their roster for the 2026 season and get back to the postseason after earning a National League wild card berth in 2025.
Strangely, right-hander Lucas Giolito is still a free agent after a bounceback season with the Boston Red Sox. But Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic notes that Chicago might be a team that could use him.
“With pitching injuries mounting across Major League Baseball, the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres are eyeing right-hander Lucas Giolito, league sources told The Athletic on Tuesday, monitoring the situation involving a one-time All-Star who remains a free agent in the middle of April,” Rosenthal wrote.
Chicago Cubs Interested in Lucas Giolito
Giolito put together a solid season in 2025 with the Red Sox, going 10-4 in 26 starts with a 3.41 ERA. He also struck out 121 batters in 145 innings of work. The Cubs have already dealt with a lot of pitching injuries.
Cade Horton is out for the season after having surgery on his right elbow and Matthew Boyd is also on the injured list with a bicep strain, though he is expected back soon. In addition, relievers Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey are out.
So, the Cubs are going to have to get creative here. They need pitching, and it is currently available with Giolito still unsigned. He will likely need a little bit of time to build up for the 2026 season and won’t be ready right away if the Cubs do sign him, but they do need some help in their rotation, and adding somebody like Giolito could give them some solid veteran experience as they look to climb out of the early hole they are in.
Chicago is 7-9 through its first 16 games and sits at the bottom of the National League Central, three games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates. They lost the NLDS last October to the Milwaukee Brewers.
If they want to turn things around, then it would make sense for them to potentially try to pursue Giolito to bolster their rotation and get back into the race.
Giolito Could Give Cubs Edge in NL Central
The Cubs were favored by many to win the NL Central entering this season, and there is certainly a chance for them to turn their season around, as it is still very early.
However, adding Giolito could give them the edge they need to get back to the top and potentially unseat the Brewers, who have won the division each of the past three seasons. It will be interesting to see if they decide to actually sign Giolito and if they can potentially outbid the Padres for his services.
Chicago Cubs ‘Eyeing’ Former All-Star Pitcher Amid Cade Horton Injury