SEATTLE -- Not much in the past eight months could be described as “normal” for Lucas Giolito.
He’s ready to change that Sunday.
The 31-year-old, who signed with San Diego back on April 22, is set to make his 2026 debut at T-Mobile Park in the Padres’ series finale against the Mariners, ending an extra-long offseason of free agency ups and downs and a modified Spring Training of Minor League starts.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. Pitching in the big leagues, being in a rotation, that’s normal for me,” Giolito said ahead of Saturday’s game. “What I was going through the last few months was more abnormal. I’m glad to be through that and back where I feel I belong.”
Giolito, who finished his ‘25 season with the Red Sox by compiling a 2.51 ERA in his final 19 outings before being left off Boston’s roster with a minor right elbow issue, spent all offseason without a contract before finally agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with San Diego four weeks into the season. That made it three straight years without a normal Spring Training for the veteran right-hander, who missed all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and didn’t make his ‘25 debut until April 30.
“I definitely appreciate a true Spring Training,” Giolito said with a wry smile. “I hope I can have that next year.
“But at the same time, it was very productive. As soon as I signed the contract, I got into communication with the pitching staff side -- Ruben [Niebla] and everyone else -- we pinpointed some things to work on during my time in the Minor Leagues. I felt like it started a little rough, and then each start I got a little better, got more acclimated to game speed and rhythm and tempo, all those kinds of things. I feel ready to go tomorrow.”
Giolito made four starts in the Minors -- two with Single-A Lake Elsinore and two with Double-A San Antonio -- within the 25-day window that was stipulated in his contract. He finished with nine earned runs allowed in 17 innings with 15 strikeouts and six walks, completing the stint with six innings of one-run ball on 74 pitches last Sunday for San Antonio.
He joins a rotation that has simultaneously been solid but also in need of reinforcements. Michael King and Randy Vásquez have combined to pitch to a 2.66 ERA. Walker Buehler has started to round into form with back-to-back starts -- prior to Saturday -- working into the sixth inning. Griffin Canning made his own delayed debut two weeks ago, returning from an Achilles injury.
But with Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove out for a significant amount of time, Germán Márquez on the IL since May 3 and Matt Waldron landing on it Friday, there’s a perfect slot for a nine-year veteran who’s more than experienced fitting into new rotations on the fly.
“He’s been there, done that,” manager Craig Stammen said. “He knows what it’s like going through a full season. Pitching well in the big leagues, that’s the biggest attribute he brings. He knows how to get outs, get outs in the big leagues.”
That’s Giolito’s normal, and he’s glad for the chance to finally get back there.
“I’m just excited to be back out there and help a really good team win baseball games,” he said. “It was kind of a surreal offseason, leaking into Spring Training and the season. But I’m really appreciative of the Padres giving me the opportunity.”