Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito’s contract status changed in the middle of his start on Wednesday.
No, seriously.
Giolito originally signed a two-year contract with Boston in 2024 — which contained a vesting option for 2026 that turned into a mutual option should he reach 140 total innings pitched in 2025. Giolito reached that mark with his 4 1/3 inning performance on Wednesday, which completely changes his status entering the offseason as he’ll almost certainly decline the option and hit the free agent market this offseason.
The Red Sox could always extend him at some point over the next two weeks, but that’s about as likely as him agreeing to the mutual option.
Giolito will be joining a top-heavy pitching market this offseason, which includes the Houston Astros’ Framber Valdez, Philadelphia Phillies’ Ranger Suárez and San Diego Padres’ Dylan Cease and Michael King.
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It’s actually a pretty good year for a right-handed option to be hitting the open market, which is good news for Giolito and bad news for the Red Sox.
Giolito posted a 3.31 ERA over the course of his first 24 starts in 2025, which is his career-best mark over the course of a full season.
Boston’s best course of action would be to extend the qualifying offer — which is worth roughly $24 million. Giolito could either accept, which would be one hell of deal for both sides, or have him decline and receive a compensation pick — which have included some major hits for the club in recent seasons.
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We’ll just have to wait and see.