Giants Sign Joey Lucchesi to Minor League Deal, Invite to Spring Training

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The San Francisco Giants have signed left-handed pitcher Joey Lucchesi to a minor league contract, with an invitation to major league spring training. The deal includes a $1.5 million salary if Lucchesi makes the major league roster, according to reports.

Lucchesi, who turns 32 in June, has spent the past few years as a depth arm for the New York Mets. Acquired from the San Diego Padres in a 2021 trade, he pitched 38 1/3 innings for the Mets that year, posting a 4.46 ERA with a strong 26.1% strikeout rate and a 7% walk rate. However, Tommy John surgery in June 2021 sidelined him for the remainder of that season and much of 2022.

Over the past two years, Lucchesi has primarily pitched in the minors, making only 11 major league appearances. In those outings, he recorded a 3.32 ERA over 57 innings, though his underlying metrics—a 16.2% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate—were less impressive. In the minors, he logged 204 2/3 innings with a 4.57 ERA, 19.3% strikeout rate, and 11.1% walk rate.

After exhausting his final option year, the Mets outrighted Lucchesi off their roster at the end of the 2023 season, and he elected free agency. The Giants, seeking depth for their rotation, see little risk in bringing him aboard on a minor league deal.

Lucchesi was once considered a promising rotation piece for the Padres, pitching 293 2/3 innings over the 2018 and 2019 seasons with a 4.14 ERA, 24.6% strikeout rate, and 8% walk rate. His ground ball rate of 46% during that span also showcased his ability to induce weak contact.

The Giants’ rotation, while solid on paper, faces uncertainty behind its top starters. Injuries have limited contributions from key pitchers in recent years, and Lucchesi could provide valuable depth. If he makes the majors, he will be out of options but could be retained via arbitration for 2026 if he holds a roster spot at the end of the 2025 season.

Fans and analysts have mixed reactions to the signing. Some see Lucchesi as a bounce-back candidate with potential, while others view him as a depth piece unlikely to make a significant impact. Regardless, the East Bay native now has an opportunity to contribute to his hometown team.