MLB

MLB Offseason Round-Up: Red Sox Land Lucas Giolito

Published

4 months ago

December 30, 2023

Lucas Giolito, Pittsburgh Pirates, MLB Offseason

This is one in a series of daily articles highlighting the latest news and notes from the MLB offseason.

Starting pitching help had been one of this biggest needs for the Boston Red Sox and new general manager Craig Breslow, and they landed their guy.

Boston is in agreement with right-handed starter Lucas Giolito, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. It’s a two-year, $38.5 million pact and it comes with an opt-out after the first season.

Giolito had been one of the more interesting free agents available this winter. At times in his career, he’s been really good, like from 2019-21 when he received Cy Young considerations all three seasons. During that stretch, the 29-year-old compiled a 27-21 record with a 3.47 ERA across 72 starts. His lone All-Star appearance came in 2019.

The last two seasons have not been as kind to the right-hander. From 2022-23, Giolito was 19-24 with a subpar 4.70 ERA. To his credit, Giolito has been a workhorse and made 30-plus starts each of the last two years including a league-high 33 starts this past season.

Giolito now joins a Red Sox rotation which consists of the likes of Chris Sale, Nick Pivetta and youngster Brayan Bello.

The Pittsburgh Pirates had at least checked in on Giolito but will have to now look elsewhere this MLB offseason as they remain on the prowl for another starting pitcher.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES

The New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels both have interest in designated hitter J.D. Martinez, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal with right-hander Chris Flexen, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The deal includes incentives.