Chicago Cubs: Reported Giolito demands make him unlikely Cubs target

The Chicago Cubs suffered a major blow when they lost 24-year-old emerging ace Cade Horton to an elbow injury that will require season-ending surgery. Not too long after that, they got another starting pitching gut punch when Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd was placed on the IL with a biceps strain.

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With the total loss of Horton and question marks over Boyd, there are calls for the Cubs to grab at anyone who might be able to fill the gap(s). And with limited options inside the organization now, it seems logical that the team may want to reach out to proven starting pitchers currently not signed to any team.

Specifically, the calls are loud for Lucas Giolito.

The 31-year-old righty is still unsigned and is expected to be a highly sought-after asset as starting pitchers begin to fall off for contending teams.

However, some are doubting whether the Cubs will be seriously pursuing the veteran. Others, meanwhile, are flat-out insisting that he’s not the guy the team needs right now.

Giolito, his contract, and whether he’s the right fit

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Despite a respectable 3.41 ERA over 26 starts for the Red Sox last season, Giolito was shut down prior to the postseason with right elbow soreness. That late-season injury, added to two prior serious elbow issues—one requiring Tommy John surgery in 2012 and the other requiring internal brace surgery in 2024—make him a questionable pickup right now. This concern may actually be the reason he remains an unsigned free agent, especially considering that, as is being reported, he wants more than a one-year deal.

Per MLB insider Bruce Levine on 104.3 The Score:

“Giolito wants a two-year contract and as other teams in Major League Baseball continue to lose starting pitchers his value goes up…

“He had a really good year last year, obviously injury has been a part of his history but when healthy he’s been a very viable pitcher. There’s no reason why the Cubs wouldn’t be one of those teams…Toronto is another, there’s probably two or three others.

As long as Giolito waits, he becomes more attractive to teams, and there’s more viability of him getting more than a one-year deal when you lose a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. There’s just nobody to replace these guys in the minor leagues.”

No sense of urgency right now?

At this point, even if the Cubs did buy into Giolito’s contractual demands, it would be awhile before he was actually brought up to the rotation. The timing may almost bump up against Justin Steele’s slated return in late May or June. And, by then, the team may have a clearer idea of how stable Boyd is post-IL.

At any rate, other more daring (desperate) teams may swoop down and snatch him up before the Cubs can make the call on whether they even want him. If not, the Cubs can then move in and try to grab him on a much more modest deal.

The most likely scenario for Chicago, barring another serious rotation injury, is a continued reliance on Javier Assad and Colin Rea to hold down the fort and a sincere hope that Steele comes back at—or near—full capacity. Then, come trade deadline, they can make the call on whether they have the need to go out and make a deal for an arm.

It’s not what everyone wants to hear, but the best course of action right now may be to just wait and see.

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