MLB Analyst Thinks Lucas Giolito Signs in NL West, But Not With Dodgers
The Dodgers agreed to a deal with Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Thursday night, meaning MLB free agency is about to take off.
The market was seemingly waiting for Yamamoto to get off the board, and tons of pitchers are about to find new homes.
Lucas Giolito, 29, has been a popular name this offseason, especially in connection with L.A. Being from Southern California, many speculate that he could have a homecoming as he tries to bounce back from a poor 2023 performance.
While this certainly makes sense, other teams will vie for his services as he represents excellent pitching depth with All-Star upside.
Recently, on MLB Network, former outfielder, now analyst, Chris Young has a different landing spot for the right-handed pitcher. Young believes that both the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres make sense for Giolito in 2024.
Both of these teams share similarities that position themselves well for Giolito.
San Francisco has their ace in Logan Webb. They also have an up-and-coming left-handed pitcher by the name of Kyle Harrison who they expect to make a leap during his second season with the club. Beyond that, they have Anthony Descalfani and old friend Ross Stripling rounding out their rotation.
The Padres need starting pitching, plain and simple. With the losses of Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and likely Blake Snell, they are thin in their rotation. They did acquire some depth from the Yankees in the Juan Soto trade, but they could still use a couple of arms.
Most importantly, as it pertains to Giolito, both these organizations boast great pitching coaches. Similar to the Dodgers, they have shown an ability to get the best out of the pitchers they bring in.
Seeing Giolito in the NL West but not in L.A. would sting. He's mentioned before how much he loves pitching at Dodger Stadium and the Los Angeles faithful would love to see him return to form at the Ravine.
