Boston Red Sox Ink Former All-Star to Multi-Year Deal, Still More Work to Do
The Boston Red Sox have begun to address their starting rotation needs by signing former All-Star Lucas Giolito to a two-year deal worth $38.5 million.
Per Jeff Passan of ESPN:
BREAKING: Right-hander Lucas Giolito and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $38.5 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season, sources tell ESPN.
Boston lands its first big signing of the winter. The question now is: Will there be more?
Let's address the main point first:
1) This is a good signing for the Red Sox. The Sox needed to address their starting rotation after it spent a year dealing with injuries and inconsistency. Giolito is a proven innings-eater who has made 29 starts or more in every full season he's been in the big leagues. He also made 12 starts, which was a full season, during the COVID 2020 season.
2) He made the All-Star team in 2019 and though he struggled to a 4.88 ERA in 2023, the potential for a positive regression is in there. The Sox are buying relatively low on a good candidate for a bounceback season.
3) This continues to give the Sox a deeper staff in general that should help the entire organization. As of now, the team has Chris Sale, Giolito, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta and Garrett Whitlock as starter possibilities. That's seven bodies for five spots which allows the Sox to overcome some injuries. Furthermore, if one or both of those extra bodies goes to Triple-A, the system is now deeper. If one or both of those extra bodies goes to the bullpen, the 'pen gets stronger. It's good no matter how you look at it.
To answer Passan's second question, there must be more for the Red Sox to feel like this was a successful offseason. Though adding innings-eaters and bodies is nice, you also want to add difference-makers. The Red Sox haven't been to the playoffs since 2021 and need difference-makers if they want to get back there. Giolito hasn't been a top-flight pitcher since at least 2021, and while he could find himself in Boston, it's hardly a sure thing. This team needs sure things.
Lifetime, Giolito is 61-62 with a 4.43 ERA.
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