If the Red Sox had one fatal flaw last year, it was their starting rotation’s inability to pitch deep into games. Those short outings didn’t just put the club in a hole any given day, they also put a strain on the bullpen that eventually proved too much to bear.
Getting more length from their starters was a top priority for the Red Sox, and by signing Lucas Giolito they’ve taken a big step forward.
Giolito, who has reportedly signed a two-year, $38.5 million deal with an opt-out after the first year, is the first significant outside addition to the Red Sox rotation. With the club’s subsequent trade of oft-injured Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves, the Red Sox have effectively swapped out their least durable pitcher for one of baseball’s most.
Since his first full season in the big leagues in 2018, Giolito has consistently ranked among MLB’s most prolific starters, ranking sixth in games started (167) and seventh in innings pitched (947) over that stretch. Last season he tied for the MLB lead in games started (33) while throwing 184.1 innings, which would have led the Red Sox by a significant margin.
Giolito has also enjoyed three seasons in which he received Cy Young votes, but last season he endured a calamitous second half, during which he posted a 7.13 ERA following the All-Star break after posting a 3.45 in the first half. He also allowed an MLB-worst 41 home runs in 2023, and his advanced metrics fell off significantly from where they were in 2021.
That poor finish is the main reason why Giolito was available at such a modest price, but while the right-hander does come with risk, there are reasons to believe he could be in line for a bounce back.
