The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are monitoring free agent right-hander Lucas Giolito as injuries continue to thin both clubs' pitching staffs, league sources told The Athletic on Tuesday.

Chicago's rotation has already taken significant hits as Cade Horton was advised to undergo season-ending elbow surgery, while Matthew Boyd is nearing a return from a strained left biceps. High-leverage relievers Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey are also sidelined, straining the entire pitching staff.

San Diego's need for pitching may be equally urgent. Nick Pivetta exited Sunday's start with right elbow stiffness and is likely headed to the injured list. Pivetta finished sixth in NL Cy Young Award voting last season after posting a 2.87 ERA across 181 innings. His contract includes a provision converting to a $14 million club option for 2027 if he spends at least 130 consecutive days on the injured list due to a specified injury.

The Padres' pursuit of Giolito could be complicated by the final stages of the franchise's ongoing sale process, which may limit financial flexibility in baseball operations.

Giolito, 31, went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts for the Boston Red Sox last season before declining a $19 million mutual option to test free agency. The Cubs project him as a back-of-rotation option. His absence through spring training and into April tempers expectations, though he has maintained his workload with bullpen sessions of approximately 75 pitches.

"The last few months have been very strange," Giolito said on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast. "Talks seem like they're heating up, and then it's like, 'Oh, OK, never mind.' I just want to play for close to what my value is."

A realistic timeline for Giolito's availability in a major league game appears to be sometime in May. Chicago projects him as a rotation addition that could push an existing starter to the bullpen, adding roster flexibility as the season develops.