MLB Rumors: Dark horse suitor for the best 4 pitchers on the market
By Scott Rogust
MLB Rumors: Lucas Giolito trade dark horse suitor – San Francisco Giants
The Chicago White Sox have been unable to find the success they last had in 2021. They underperformed last year and the moves they made this past offseason haven’t worked out in the current campaign. As of this writing, the White Sox are 35-47 but are still just 5.5 games behind first place. Much like the NL Central, the AL Central is wide open. But given how far under .500 they are, it may be in the best interest for the White Sox to sell at the deadline.
One name that could fetch a decent haul for them is starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, who is set to become a free agent. Giolito does slot near the top of trade candidate rankings, considering how well he has pitched so far this season. Through 17 starts, Giolito owns a 3.53 ERA and a 1.178 WHIP, while recording 108 strikeouts and 29 walks over 99.1 innings.
One team that is familiar with White Sox starting pitchers is the San Francisco Giants. Just last year, they signed Carlos Rodon to a contract, who made the All-Star Game and finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting after posting a 2.88 ERA, a 1.028 WHIP, and a 12.0 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio (NL-high).
The Giants started the year slowly, but they have since rebounded, as evidenced by their 10-game winning streak earlier this year. San Francisco now sits with a 45-35 record as of this writing, but they still trail the Arizona Diamondbacks, who lead the NL West with a 48-33 record. Not to mention the Los Angeles Dodgers are not far behind them with a 44-35 record.
San Francisco could stand to add to their starting rotation. Adding Giolito to it could help them maintain their ground in the tough division.