Phillies news and rumors 12/28: Mets eyeing former All-Star starting pitcher

Lucas Giolito could be heading to a division rival. (Gavin Napier/Icon Sportswire)

After missing out on right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency, the New York Mets are checking out other options for their starting rotation. And, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Phillies’ National League East division rivals have “strong interest” in former All-Star Lucas Giolito.

Giolito, 29, had a bit of an usual 2023, pitching for three teams in the White Sox, Angels and Guardians. He had a 4.88 ERA in 184 1/3 innings across 33 starts. He’s been durable, pitching more than 160 innings in every full year of his career, but Giolito hasn’t pitched to his full capabilities since 2021 when he finished 11th in American League Cy Young Award voting. He makes sense for New York as a potential innings eater and bounce-back candidate.

The Mets, looking to retool after a majorly disappointing season in which they traded away aging aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, were thought to be a potential destination for the 25-year-old Japanese star Yamamoto, who eventually signed a 12-year deal in Los Angeles. New York will now need to look elsewhere for rotation help.

The Phillies were also in the mix for Yamamoto before also falling short to the Dodgers. For the Phillies, however, the pursuit was more of a luxury for a great player than a rotation need. After kicking off the offseason by re-signing Aaron Nola to a seven-year contract, the Phillies rotation is mostly set; the team could pursue depth options or ultimately stand pat heading into spring training.

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