The Boston Red Sox made the first significant piece of business in the free agency by shoring up their rotation with right-hander Lucas Giolito.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Giolito inked a two-year, $38.5 million deal with the Red Sox. The 29-year-old player will be able to earn an additional $2 million based on the number of innings he plays.
The agreement also comes with an opt-out after the 2024 MLB season and a conditional option for 2026.
Giolito played with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians in 2023. He made a total of 33 starts, which is a career-high, and finished the campaign with an 8-15 record, 4.88 ERA, and 204 strikeouts.
Giolito’s best season in the majors came in 2019 when he had a 14-9 record as a starter with a 3.41 ERA and a career-high 228 strikeouts. He had three complete games and shutouts that season, earning his first All-Star nod.
The Boston Red Sox looked to upgrade their rotation for the 2024 season and were one of the teams that pursued highly-coveted Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. After missing out on Yamamoto, the Red Sox decided to turn to cheaper options, inking righty Cooper Criswell to a one-year deal and now Giolito.
