MLB Rumors: Cardinals trade interest, Red Sox surprise move, Astros target
By Mark Powell
MLB Rumors: Astros a suitor for Lucas Giolito?
The Houston Astros starting rotation has been riddled with injuries in the 2023 campaign. Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers and Jose Urquidy are all out due to injury, placed on the 60-day IL. While those injuries have varying degrees of severity, the Astros rotation is being held together by little more than tape and spare parts.
Thankfully, Houston general manager Dana Brown is not stranger to making moves at the MLB Trade Deadline. Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito is expected to be one of the best starting pitchers moved prior to August. He is on the Astros radar, per Josh Criswell of Chron.
“Lucas Giolito is the most high-profile name of the bunch—he’s a former All-Star with two top-10 Cy Young finishes on his resume, and he has a 3.45 ERA through 19 starts in 2023,” writes Criswell. “Giolito would undoubtedly help solidify an Astros rotation in need of another high-end arm.”
Chicago will sell come the trade deadline, and for good reason. Many members of their current core are in contract years, and haven’t lived up to the hype. Giolito, for what it’s worth, has pitched quite well this season — but he’s due to be a free agent this winter. That’s enough for the White Sox to at least explore a trade, and see what they can get for Giolito now.