Red Sox sign starting pitcher Lucas Giolito

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The Red Sox have agreed to terms with free agent right-hander Lucas Giolito, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal is for two-years, $38.5 million with the opportunity to stretch to four years.

Giolito will earn $18 million in 2024 and will receive a $1 million buyout if he opts out. If he opts in, he’ll make $19 million in 2025, Passan posted on X. There’s a conditional club option worth $14 million in 2026 if he tosses under 140 frames and a mutual option for $19 million if he tosses more than 140 innings in ’25.

The 29-year-old is coming off a down season where he posted an 8-15 record, 4.88 ERA, and 41 homers allowed (most in the American League and second most in baseball).

Giolito offers durability and would be a much needed innings eater for the Red Sox. Last season, Brayan Bello led the team with 157 innings pitched.

After spending nearly six years with the White Sox, Giolito changed teams twice in the final two-plus months of the season.

He was dealt with Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels in July before getting placed on waivers and then was snatched up by the Guardians for the final weeks of the season.

Giolito went 3-11 with a 6.07 ERA while allowing 2.4 homers per nine innings after the break. New pitching coach Andrew Bailey would be charged with correcting the long ball issue for Giolito.

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While veteran starter was with the Angels, he was walloped by opposing hitters posting a 6.89 ERA in six starts.

The addition of Giolito is Boston’s first big move of the offseason and the first move for the rotation.

The only major league deal the Red Sox have handed out was a one-year, $1 million contract to righty Cooper Criswell.

Giolito offers the Red Sox a starter that can go deep into games, he’s made 30-plus starts four times in his career. The expectation is once he’s under Craig Breslow’s pitching program, Boston will correct what went sideways last season.

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