The Boston Red Sox are inching closer to the highly anticipated debut of veteran pitcher Lucas Giolito, who has yet to take the mound for the team since signing a two-year, $38.5 million contract last offseason. Giolito suffered an injury on March 1, 2024, which sidelined him for the entire regular season. Now, he’s aiming to be ready for Opening Day after throwing live batting practice earlier this week as part of his rehab.
Giolito, a 2021 American League All-Star with the Chicago White Sox, is determined to prove he can still perform at an elite level following a challenging 2023 season. For many athletes, a contract year can add extra pressure, but Giolito insists that his impending free agency is the least of his concerns.
“My first contract year, it was definitely on my mind,” Giolito said during an appearance on the *Baseball Isn’t Boring* podcast. “I started the year with the White Sox, got traded to the Angels at the deadline, then was put on waivers and ended up with Cleveland for a month. Especially in the second half of the year, I was thinking about it a lot, and I think it negatively affected my mindset and performance. I’ve learned from that experience. This year, I couldn’t care less about my contract year. Right now, I’m focused on the talent in this clubhouse, how well we’re coming together, and thinking about the playoffs and beyond. That’s where my head is at.”
The 30-year-old right-hander could still be with the Red Sox in 2026 without needing a new contract. Boston holds a $14 million club option for 2026 if Giolito throws fewer than 140 innings this season. If he surpasses that mark, the two sides have a $19 million mutual option with a $1.5 million buyout.
However, Giolito’s performance on the field will ultimately determine his future with the team. So far, the Red Sox haven’t seen even a small sample size of what he can bring to the rotation. While they don’t need him to be an ace—a role they may have initially envisioned for him last season—a productive season as a reliable fourth starter could help solidify one of the deepest and most talented rotations in baseball.
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