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Boston Red Sox Sign Lucas Giolito in MLB Free Agency
After attracting interest from a number of teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Mets, Lucas Giolito was signed by the Boston Red Sox.
Giolito has a $38.5 million two-year deal with the Red Sox, with an opt-out clause that expires after the 2024 campaign. Giolito is expected to earn $18 million in compensation in 2024. Should he choose to exercise his opt-out clause, he would also receive a $1 million buyout.
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The 29-year-old’s salary in 2025 would be $19 million if he chose to stay under contract with the Red Sox. That would also equate to acquiring a 2026 season conditional option.
Giolito has a $14 million option that the Red Sox can exercise in 2025 if he pitches fewer than 140 innings. A $19 million mutual option would be activated for Giolito if the right-hander surpasses that threshold.
If the $1.5 million buyout is Giolito’s contract status for 2026, then he will receive it regardless of the option value.
By adding a potential bounce-back player to their rotation, the Red Sox hope to strengthen it. With a 4.88 ERA, 5.27 FIP, 1.31 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched over 33 starts between the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians, the native of Southern California went a combined 8-15.
Due to his struggles during the 2023 season, Giolito ended up being the first pitcher for three different teams in the same year to allow at least eight runs in a start since 1899.
Giolito showed ace potential in his 72 starts between 2019 and 2021, striking out 30.7% of batters he faced.
Lucas Giolito was keen to get back together with Shohei Ohtani.
This year, he had a brief chance to play alongside Shohei Ohtani after being traded to the Angels at the deadline. That was short-lived, though, as the Angels put him on waivers as part of salary-dumping maneuvers after just six starts.
Ohtani and Giolito were both free agents, but the pitcher indicated he would like to work with the two-way superstar once more.
Even with the signings of Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, that seemed plausible, but the Dodgers’ interest in Giolito seemed to be on much more amicable terms as a depth piece for their starting rotation.
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Red Sox and Two Free Agent Sluggers Are “Still Engaged” in Order To Increase Dedicated Hitter Spot
It seems as though the Red Sox will soon make a signing.
It’s possible that the Boston Red Sox will act soon.
With Spring Training rapidly approaching, Boston still has some holes in their roster. The Red Sox still need to strengthen their starting rotation and probably acquire a right-handed slugger to assist in the role of designated hitter before it arrives.
Last season, Justin Turner filled in for the Red Sox, and he did a fantastic job. Despite that, he is a free agent at this time. Adam Duvall is another former Red Sox slugger who is available as a free agent.
Although it’s unclear if a move is imminent, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports that Boston is “still engaged” with both Turner and Duvall regarding a potential reunion.
“Some Red Sox news: Kyle Hudson will be the (third base) coach with Andy Fox at (first base),” Abraham stated. Jarren Duran is cleared to resume training in the spring. No restrictions. The Sox are still in negotiations with Justin Turner and Adam Duvall, both free agents. Plans, however, still call for no regular DH. The at-bats will be dispersed.”
This offseason, Turner and Duvall have both been mentioned as potential free agents at various times. Turner, who is 39 years old, did a great job in the role last season. Despite having injuries, Duvall had an excellent outfield season the previous year.
The Red Sox need someone with defensive upside because it sounds like they don’t want to sign someone to simply be the team’s designated hitter. Duvall might be a better option at this point than Turner.
Duvall could be useful in the middle of the lineup as a right-handed bat and in all three outfield positions. Turner could undoubtedly contribute defensively as well, but Boston’s infield is better covered.
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