Red Sox sign Giolito to 1-year deal with 2025 player option
The Boston Red Sox have added a big arm to their rotation, signing right-hander Lucas Giolito to a one-year contract that includes a player option for 2025.
The deal also contains a conditional option for 2026 based on innings pitched, although this will only come into play if Giolito opts into the second year of the contract next winter.
Giolito’s deal with Boston gives him an $18M salary in 2024 and a $1M buyout if he opts out. If not, the salary for 2025 is $19M. There is a conditional option for 2026 — $14M club option if he throws under 140 innings in 2025, $19M mutual option for 140+, with a $1.5M buyout.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 29, 2023
Boston designated right-hander Mauricio Llovera for assignment to make room for Giolito on the 40-man roster.
The 29-year-old heads to Beantown after a difficult 2023 campaign split between the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians. Giolito allowed an AL-leading 41 home runs in a career-high 184 1/3 total innings last year while going 8-15 with a 4.88 ERA, 5.27 FIP, and 1.31 WHIP.
However, Giolito did continue to strike out batters, tallying 204 Ks with a 10.0 K/9 rate. His 33 starts tied for the AL lead and marked the third straight season he made 30-plus starts.
Before his slight downturn over the last few years, Giolito had been a solid and reliable starter atop the White Sox rotation. He received Cy Young votes in three straight seasons from 2019-21, was an All-Star in 2019, and threw a no-hitter in 2020. For his career, Giolito owns a 4.43 ERA (98 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, and 1,077 strikeouts across 1,013 2/3 innings with four teams.
Giolito's ability to eat innings - he's thrown at least 160 innings in each of the last five full seasons - will be a welcome addition to the middle of Boston's rotation. His presence also lengthens the Red Sox staff and potentially allows Nick Pivetta to move to the bullpen, where he thrived down the stretch last season.
Red Sox starters endured a difficult 2023 season as a unit, ranking in the bottom third of the league in ERA (4.68) and total fWAR (9.1).
The Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets were among the teams that reportedly pursued Giolito this winter before his agreement with Boston.
The contract marks the first major free-agent signing for new Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow since his hiring in October.