Padres reach one-year deal with free agent Lucas Giolito - ESPN

The San Diego Padres have signed veteran right-hander Lucas Giolito, bolstering the surging club's injury-plagued rotation with the top starter left on the free agent market.

The Padres announced a one-year deal for Giolito on Wednesday with a mutual option for 2027. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

He will report to Class A Lake Elsinore to build up his endurance before reporting to the Padres in mid-May.

Giolito, 31, is a Southern California native who went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA over 26 starts last year for the Boston Red Sox, bouncing back solidly after missing the entire 2024 season because his right ulnar collateral ligament was repaired with an internal brace that March.

He became a free agent after declining his end of a $19 million mutual option with the Red Sox.

Giolito has played parts of nine seasons in the majors for the Nationals, White Sox, Angels and Guardians, going 71-66, with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.

He has been durable and dependable for most of his career while earning an All-Star selection in 2019 and throwing a no-hitter in 2020. Despite missing a season because of injury, he ranks in the top five among AL pitchers from 2018 to '25 in innings pitched (1,092), strikeouts (1,153), wins (68) and complete games (5).

But Giolito remained on the free agent market nearly one month into the regular season before landing with the Padres, who are pitching superbly this season despite major upheaval and injury problems in their rotation.

Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta went on the injured list last week with a right elbow flexor strain that could keep him out for months, while Joe Musgrove has yet to make his season debut after a slower-than-expected return from Tommy John surgery. Yu Darvish already is