The Chicago White Sox and ace Lucas Giolito failed to reach a contract on Tuesday and will head to arbitration to resolve the issue. Giolito reportedly filed at $7.5 million and Chicago filed at $7.3 million, per Mark Feinsand. That is an extraordinarily close difference but it is still enough to send both sides to a hearing. 

Giolito has consistently posted ERA’s in the mid-3’s over the course of the past three seasons and has established himself as one of the premier pitchers in baseball. The big right-hander finished last season with a 3.53 ERA to go along with a 1.10 WHIP and 201 strikeouts over 178.2 innings pitched. He has undoubtedly been good for the team, but Lance Lynn finished 2021 with a very impressive 2.69 ERA and could be in the conversation for Chicago’s ace. 

As for the White Sox, they feature a top-tier pitching rotation which is led by: Giolito, Lynn, Dylan Cease, and Michael Kopech. Giolito has been amongst the best pitchers in the league and profiles as a guy who is going to eat a lot of innings while striking out batters in bunches. Chicago values their ace deeply which makes it confusing as to why they were unable to come to an agreement with him. 

The White Sox have rebuilt their team following a disappointing 2010’s decade, and they have made the postseason in consecutive years heading into 2022. Their mixture of a powerful lineup, an elite bullpen, and a strong starting rotation should lead to more success for them this year. 

Lucas Giolito and the Chicago White Sox will aim to make a deep postseason run in 2022.