Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito is two years away from free agency.
The 2022 season will be his second arbitration year, and he reached an agreement today to collect a $7.45 million salary this year, a few days after the two sides seemed set for an arbitration hearing over a $200,000 gap.
Of course, the 27-year-old hurler remains a prime candidate for a contract extension: he loves Chicago, and the city loves him back.
He is apparently keeping things light in extension talks.
“Asked if he talked extension with Reinsdorf, Lucas Giolito laughed: ‘I made a couple of comments’. No place else I’d rather be. I’ve got a couple years here to try and step my game up and be that elite-caliber guy and see if we’ll be able to make something happen in the future’,” he stated, according to James Fegan of The Athletic.
Asked if he talked extension with Reinsdorf, Lucas Giolito laughed: “I made a couple of comments”
“No place else I’d rather be. I’ve got a couple years here to try and step my game up and be that elite-caliber guy and see if we’ll be able to make something happen in the future."
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) April 1, 2022
A Very Solid Pitcher That The White Sox Should Retain Long-Term
While Giolito is not at the same level as Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, or Corbin Burnes, he is definitely a top pitcher, and the White Sox need him if they are serious about remaining the AL Central powerhouse for years to come.
An extension makes too much sense not to happen, but for now, it appears the parties haven’t agreed on how much Giolito is worth over a long-term contract.
Last year, he was very good: he posted a 3.53 ERA in 178.2 innings, compiling an impressive 27.9% strikeout rate.
That kind of production earned him a 4.0 WAR output.
WAR means Wins Above Replacement, and it thinks Giolito is a solid pitcher.
Giolito seems to be taking things with a good mood: he knows his worth, and he knows that the White Sox will likely be his place for the long term.
NEXT: White Sox GM Comments On The AJ Pollock Addition