Red Sox Agree to Two-Year Contract With The Sensational Pitcher $80 Million Deal
The Boston Red Sox bolstered their starting pitching rotation for 2024 on Friday night, adding veteran Lucas Giolito on a two-year deal.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the righty agreed to a two-year, $38.5 million deal with the Red Sox, with an opt-out after ’24. He’ll make $18 million next season, and if he remains with the team, $19 million in ’25. There is an additional conditional option for ’26 worth up to $19 million based on his ’25 innings total
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A 2019 All-Star with the Chicago White Sox, Giolito is coming off of a very up-and-down season in which he bounced around to three different teams—the White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians. After a solid start to the season in Chicago, he struggled to a 6.89 ERA in six starts with the Angels, and after being placed on waivers, made six more starts for the Guardians, pitching to a 7.04 ERA. He finished with an 8–15 record on the year.
He had been a quality starter for Chicago from ’19—his All-Star season—through ’21, pitching to ERAs of 3.41, 3.48 and 3.53 in those three seasons, respectively. His career highlight came on August 25, 2020 when he threw a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out 13 and allowing just one walk.
His new team, Boston, is looking to rebound from a 78–84 2023 season, in which they finished last in a loaded AL East.
Despite acquiring the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers are still expected to add further depth to their pitching staff. One name associated with the franchise was Lucas Giolito. The former All-Star pitcher prepped at nearby Harvard-Westlake High School in Studio City – a swanky suburb a stone’s throw from Dodger Stadium. An inning’s eater with a proven track record, some thought he’d be a nice fit as a back-of-the-rotation arm. LA would’ve brought him in on a short deal without a huge financial commitment. In return, Giolito would’ve been given the chance to rebuild his reputation after a rocky 2023 season.
The deal is similar to one Giolito likely would’ve received with the Dodgers. He has an opt-out clause after the first year of his deal. If he’s able to crush it in Boston, he’d be able to presumably re-enter the market in search of a multi-year deal at just 30 years of age. As it stands, the Red Sox were able to acquire a consistent arm with plenty of experience in the American League. The Dodgers will surely pivot elsewhere. There are rumors Cleveland hurler/fellow Southern California native Shane Bieber might be in play. The same can be said for lefty flamethrower Jesus Luzardo. Both would have to come to LA via trade.
In terms of free agent arms, a low-cost buy could involve left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea. There’s also Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw still out there as an unsigned asset.
