The White Sox are in need of multiple pitchers this offseason to fill out their starting rotation in 2024. Bringing back Lucas Giolito could be an answer to some of those problems.
Giolito certainly isn’t the flashiest arm available in free agency but a reunion could be beneficial for both sides. Assuming that Mike Celvinger opts out of his mutual option, the White Sox will be left with Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech as their only two starters heading into free agency.
The White Sox do have some intriguing arms in their farm system that could fill some of those vacancies. However, they are going to need someone to eat innings if they choose to rely on multiple unproven prospects.
Even if the White Sox choose not to rely on their young arms they will still need a workhorse. Kopech’s struggles to go deep in games have been well-documented and Cease has yet to reach 200 innings in a season. That is going to put a lot of pressure on a bullpen that was gutted during the trade deadline.
Giolito has made 30 starts in each of the last three seasons and has thrown over 170 innings in four of the last five full seasons. The 6’6” right-hander would provide the White Sox with a much-needed innings eater next season.
Giolito could also benefit from returning to the South Side. After he was traded to the Angels his free agency stock plummeted. In six starts with the Angels, he posted a 6.89 ERA before getting released. He then joined the Cleveland Guardians, who are known for their ability to develop pitchers, and posted an even worse 7.04 ERA in his final six starts of the season.
He will be looking for a club with a strong pitching coach who can help rekindle some of the magic he found during the 2021 season. Working with White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz helped revitalize his career. Another season with Katz could help Giolito rebuild his stock. Before getting traded to the Angels, Giolito had a respectable 3.79 ERA in 21 starts with the White Sox.
Jim Bowden of the Athelitc projects Gioliton will receive a two-year deal worth $24 million with an option after the first year. That is well within the White Sox price range. Chris Getz would be adding a starter who is comfortable in Chicago and will be more motivated than ever. He would also earn some goodwill from the fan base by bringing back a fan favorite.
In 162 starts with the White Sox the Santa Monica native posted a 59-52 record with 993 strikeouts and a 4.20 ERA. Those numbers don’t jump off the page but when Giolito had his best stuff he proved to be a legitimate ace.
In 2020 he threw a no-hitter. A few months later he was perfect through six innings in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series, retiring the first 18 batters he faced in his first-ever playoff start. When the dust settled he had thrown seven innings of one-run ball and earned the White Sox their first playoff victory since 2008.
The following season he set a career-high with 178.2 innings pitched and struck out 201 batters. It marked his second consecutive full season punching out 200 plus. His 10.13 SO per 9.0 innings was also the sixth-highest total in franchise history.
If Giolito were to return on a short-term deal, he would have much less pressure on him than in years past when the team was viewed as a contender. He would also serve as a much-needed veteran presence for some of the younger arms like Nick Nastrini and Jake Eder, who figure to see some time in the big leagues next season.
The fit makes too much sense for both parties involved. However, the White Sox wouldn’t be without some competition. Even with his struggles he still owns a 12.4 WAR which will be enough to draw the interest of teams in need of pitching such as the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Orioles, Cardinals, and Braves.
