The Red Sox Make Major Pitching Addition
BOSTON — The Red Sox have made a significant addition to their starting rotation, agreeing to a two-year, $38.5 million deal with free-agent right-hander Lucas Giolito, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Giolito, who was one of the top starters in the American League from 2019-2021, had a downturn in the last two seasons. However, the Red Sox are confident that with their new-and-improved pitching infrastructure, Giolito can reverse that trend.
The team had been targeting one or two starters this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if they add someone in addition to Giolito. Lefties Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell are the top two starters left on the free-agent market, with the deadline to sign Shōta Imanaga, a 30-year-old lefty from Japan, coming up on January 11th.
Giolito’s 2023 season was tumultuous, with a strong start for the White Sox before a dip in performance after being traded to the Angels and later claimed off waivers by the Guardians.
Prior to the 2023 season, Giolito had spent six straight seasons with the White Sox. His best season came in 2019 when he finished sixth in the Cy Young Award voting. He also threw a no-hitter during the 2020 season.
At only 29 years old, there is still plenty of potential for Giolito to regain his past dominance. However, he will need to address his struggles with hard contact, which led to him allowing the most home runs in the American League in 2023.
In addition to Giolito, the Red Sox rotation currently includes Brayan Bello, Chris Sale, and Nick Pivetta, with uncertainty around the roles of Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Kutter Crawford.
Overall, the addition of Giolito is a significant move for the Red Sox as they look to strengthen their pitching staff for the upcoming season.