The MLB offseason may be moving at a snail’s pace, but the White Sox are starting to stir. After a quiet start to winter, Chicago made a move by signing left-hander Anthony Kay, fresh off a strong showing in Japan.
But that’s likely just the beginning. According to reports, the White Sox are actively working the mid-tier pitching market, and one name floating around - even if unofficially - is a familiar one: Lucas Giolito.
Now, Giolito’s story with the White Sox is a bit of a rollercoaster. He first arrived on the South Side in the trade that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals before the 2017 season.
After a promising debut that year, things got rocky fast. His 2018 campaign was rough - a 6.13 ERA and command issues made it a season to forget.
But then came 2019, and everything changed. Giolito didn’t just bounce back - he broke out.
He slashed his ERA nearly in half, cut down his walks, and punched out over 100 more hitters than the year before. From 2019 through 2021, he was a mainstay at the top of the rotation, giving the Sox a reliable, high-upside arm every fifth day.
But like many pitchers, Giolito hit a wall. His 2022 season was inconsistent, and while he showed flashes of his old form early in 2023, a midseason trade sent him into a tailspin. Over his final 12 starts that year, he struggled to regain his footing.
Then came the injury. After signing a two-year deal with the Red Sox, Giolito missed all of 2024 due to an elbow issue.
But in 2025, he came back strong. Over 26 starts, he posted a 3.41 ERA - the same mark as his breakout 2019 - and looked like the pitcher who once threw a no-hitter in a White Sox uniform.
Unfortunately, another elbow injury kept him out of the postseason, but he’s reportedly healthy again and ready to hit the open market.
So, could a reunion with the White Sox be in the cards?
From a baseball standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. Giolito might be the most intriguing arm in this year’s mid-tier free agent class.
He’s got the track record, the upside, and the familiarity with the organization. And while the coaching staff and front office have changed since his last stint in Chicago, that could actually work in the Sox’s favor.
The baggage from the previous regime is gone, and the door might be open for a fresh start.
One thing that hasn’t changed is Giolito’s calling card: the changeup. It’s the pitch that’s always set him apart, and it just so happens to be a point of emphasis under the White Sox’s new pitching director, Brian Bannister.
Bannister has a reputation for helping pitchers refine their changeups - just ask Logan Webb or Hayden Birdsong from his time with the Giants. In Chicago, he’s already made strides with young arms like Davis Martin and Shane Smith.
With Giolito’s changeup-first arsenal, there’s a clear fit here.
Of course, familiarity cuts both ways. Giolito was part of a White Sox core that never quite lived up to its potential.
That experience could leave him hesitant to return - especially if he’s got other offers on the table. But this is a different team now, with a new vision and new leadership.
And sometimes, a second act can be even better than the first.
There’s no guarantee the White Sox will make a serious push for Giolito, but if they do, it would be a strong signal that they’re serious about rebuilding their rotation with proven talent. He checks a lot of boxes: veteran presence, upside, familiarity, and the kind of pitch mix that fits the current development philosophy.
If Chicago wants to stabilize its staff and give fans a reason to believe in 2026, bringing back a reinvented Giolito could be a smart - and symbolic - move.