Lucas Giolito Recounts Being Claimed By Guardians

Originally posted on FanNation Cleveland Baseball Insider
By Tommy Wild | Last updated 11/3/23

One of the most surprising moves the Cleveland Guardians made all season was claiming a trio of pitchers off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. One of them was former Cy Young candidate and All-Star Lucas Giolito.

Cleveland fans weren't the only ones shocked by this transaction by both the Guardians and Angels. Giolito admitted himself that he didn't even know what being put on waivers meant.

Giolito was recently on the Chris Rose Rotation Podcast and narrated how all of the events unfolded from his perspective.

"That was crazy. I think Jeff Passan put out, like the Angles are putting all these guys on waivers," said Giolito, "I didn't even know what waivers were so I called my agent after. I didn't know what it meant. Like are they releasing us? Like what's happening?"

Not knowing what team you'll pitch for next or how you'll even find out where you're going must've been an awkward phenomenon for a pitcher that has the record Giolito does. He did do a good job of trying to encapsulate what this feeling was like.

"It was kind of like purgatory for a day or two and then (the Angels) traveled to San Francisco and then on that off day is when I found out I was going to Cleveland."

One of the reasons the Guardians decided to claim Giolito was that they were down a number of pitchers due to injuries and needed someone to eat innings. At the time, Chris Antonetti said that this was a move that was made in order to "go for" the AL Central title.

That didn't end well f as Cleveland was effectively eliminated shortly after and Giolito finished with a 7.04 ERA over six starts with the Guardians.