The Chicago White Sox have had a highly disappointing season, taking a 38-54 record into the second half. After entering the season as the American League Central favorites—depending on who you ask—the White Sox find themselves 8.0 games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians and 12.5 games back in a crowded AL Wild Card race.
While the White Sox don’t exactly have an astronomical hole to climb out of in the AL Central race, it seems likely that the team will sell off pieces that are set to be free agents after the season. One of those players is right-handed starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, who figures to be among the top names that are dealt come Aug. 1.
As per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in the 28-year-old Giolito, who is one of the top available pitchers. The Dodgers have the financial might and the farm system to bolster their roster, as they entered the second half tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place.
The Dodgers are interested in White Sox RHP Lucas Giolito, one of the top available pitchers, sources say.
Giolito, who went to high school in LA, has a 3.45 ERA this year. The Dodgers have an @MLB-best 9 of the industry’s top 100 prospects, per @MLBPipeline.@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 13, 2023
As the Dodgers look to pull away in a tight National League West race, a player like Giolito could be a huge addition to a team that’s already down the likes of Dustin May and Walker Buehler. While the Dodgers rotation has been able to hold its own, Los Angeles is currently without both Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) and Noah Syndergaard (blister) for at least the next couple of weeks.
That’s where Giolito, who went to high school in Los Angeles, comes into play. A homecoming would make sense for the right-hander, who has pitched to a 6-5 record with a 3.45 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 112.1 innings in 2023. It also makes sense for the White Sox, as the Dodgers, according to Morosi, have an MLB-best nine of the industry’s top 100 prospects.
The Dodgers have the depth to trade from, but giving up a top-100 prospect to rent a pitcher that has a 4+ FIP in consecutive years is hard to imagine. The Dodgers, very cautious when it comes to trading prospects, likely won’t do anything rash unless their hand is forced by injuries. For now, it remains to be seen if a return to Los Angeles is the best landing spot for Giolito.
