In an unexpected comment, one of the best pitchers in MLB just urged the Atlanta Braves to sign nine-year veteran Lucas Giolito.
Despite a 76-86 finish last year, there is legitimate excitement surrounding the Braves heading into the 2026 season. Many believe Ronald Acuna Jr. can again be an MVP candidate. They brought back impact veteran Ha-Seong Kim. Added All-Star closer Robert Suarez, and will have Spencer Strider a year further removed from UCL surgery.
Strider and ace Chris Sale were set to lead a rotation that had the potential to be one of the very best in the league. However, that group took massive hits over the last week. Both Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach are expected to miss much of the 2026 season due to surgeries on their pitching elbows.
While the Braves still have solid pitching depth, they’ve been looking at the free agent market for potential options to fill Waldrep and Schwellenback’s spots in the rotation. One player that has been linked to Atlanta is one-time All-Star Lucas Giolito.
The 31-year-old had a good season for the Boston Red Sox in 2025 after missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery. Yet, for some reason, he remains a free agent with spring training a week old for teams around the league.
Garrett Crochet pushes for the Braves to sign Lucas Giolito
Well, his 2025 teammate Garret Crochet believes that should end, and claimed this week that the Braves are a “pretty obvious” place he should land.
“It just doesn’t make a ton of sense. It’s just been that way for a while, though,” Crochet told the media on Saturday when asked about Giolito still being available. “The middle of the market on both the position player and pitching side kind of gets screwed and ends up either signing after the season begins or what have you.”
“… A lot of guys never figure it out here. The guys that have, they’ve stayed around, in the past, for a reason. I don’t think that just because we’re getting super analytical, we should look at it any differently,” he added. “When you look at depth, you’re looking at guys who are experienced and have done it, not guys who can do it. That’s not depth. That’s just another prospect.”
Giolito went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA and fanned 121 batters in 145 innings last season.
