Advertisement

Lucas Giolito reportedly agrees to two-year contract with Boston Red Sox

Lucas Giolito delivers for the Angels during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 28.
(Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
Share via

The Boston Red Sox added Lucas Giolito to their rotation Friday, agreeing to a $38.5-million, two-year contract with the right-hander.

The 29-year-old Giolito can opt out of the deal after next season, a person familiar with the agreement told the Associated Press. If he opts out, the contract would be worth $19 million.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced and was subject to a physical.

Advertisement

Giolito struggled to an 8-15 record with a 4.88 ERA last season for the Chicago White Sox, Angels and Cleveland Guardians.

A week ago, the Angels put six players on waivers, three of whom got picked up by the Guardians. Those three players are back in Anaheim this weekend.

The Southern California native gave up 41 homers, second in the major leagues and three fewer than Lance Lynn. Giolito tied for the major league lead with 33 starts. Mixing fastballs, sliders and changeups with occasional curveballs, he struck out 204 in 184-1/3 innings while walking 73, his most since 2018. He got 81 of his strikeouts on fastballs, 65 on changeups and 56 on sliders.

Selected by Washington with the 16th pick in the 2012 amateur draft, Giolito debuted for the Nationals in June 2016 and was acquired by the White Sox that December with right-hander Dane Dunning for outfielder Adam Eaton. He was an All-Star in 2019, when he was 14-9 with a 3.41 ERA and tied for the major league lead in complete games with three and shutouts with two.

Advertisement

Giolito went 59-52 with a 4.20 ERA in 162 starts with the White Sox, who traded him to the Angels on July 26 with right-hander Reynaldo López for minor league left-hander Ky Bush and catcher Edgar Quero. After going 1-5 with a 6.89 ERA in six starts for the Angels, Giolito was claimed off waivers by Cleveland and went 1-4 with a 7.04 ERA in six starts for the Guardians.

He has a 61-62 record with a 4.43 ERA in 178 career starts and two relief appearances.

Advertisement