Dodgers Reportedly Competing With 5 Teams for Lucas Giolito

The Dodgers’ top off-season priority for their 2024 roster is starting pitching, plain and simple. It’s no secret around the league that the Dodgers are looking all over for help in their rotation. While the team has been looking at the top of the market, they also will need to fill the rotation out with some lower-tiered guys. President of baseball Andrew Friedman has a solid reputation of resuscitating players deemed “reclamation projects,” he reportedly has another in his sights this winter: Lucas Giolito.

The right-hander has been linked with the Dodgers for a long time now. He would have bolstered an injury-depleted Dodgers rotation at last season’s trade deadline, but was unavailable after the Angels placed him on waivers and Giolito was claimed by the Cleveland Guardians.

Now, after a season in which Giolito struggled to a 4.88 earned-run average in 33 starts before hitting the free agent market, the Dodgers might be able to get him on the cheap.

The Dodgers are not alone in their pursuit. MLB Network insider Jon Morosi is reporting that four other teams are looking at Giolito this off-season.

The second half of Giolito’s 2023 season was forgettable. He posted an ERA of 3.79 over 21 games with the Chicago White Sox, then was traded to Anaheim along with reliever Reynaldo Lopez. Giolito saw his ERA balloon to 6.89 over six starts with the Angels before he was placed on waivers.

The Cleveland Guardians – who had a higher waiver priority than the Dodgers by virtue of their won-loss record – claimed the Santa Monica native. The change of scenery didn’t help. Giolito’s ERA rose to 7.04 over six starts. Now, he’ll be looking to regain value with a new team. The Dodgers could be the team to make it happen.

Giolito would slot right in toward the back end of a rotation thinned by injuries (Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin) and potential free agent departures (Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw), and give the Dodgers an experienced starter to complement youngsters Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot, Emmet Sheehan and perhaps Gavin Stone.

Giolito makes perfect sense for LA this offseason, and the hope is that they can land him to bolster the rotation next year.

Photo Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

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