The Boston Red Sox received concerning news about their key offseason pitching acquisition, right-hander Lucas Giolito. Despite signing a significant two-year, $38.5 million deal with the Red Sox to bolster their rotation, Giolito suffered ligament damage to his right elbow, likely sidelining him for the entire 2024 season.
Manager Alex Cora confirmed the news, stating that Giolito will undergo surgery on Tuesday. The full extent of the injury and the type of surgery required are not yet known, with more information expected after the procedure.
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The Boston Red Sox faced a series of setbacks in the 2023 season due to injuries, particularly to key starters such as Tanner Houck, Chris Sale, and Garrett Whitlock. This forced manager Alex Cora to rely heavily on bullpen arms to fill the gaps, which ultimately proved ineffective. With an unstable rotation, the Red Sox struggled and finished at the bottom of the American League East for the third time in four years.
Giolito was seen as a promising solution to Boston’s rotation issues. Known for his durability, the 29-year-old has consistently logged over 160 innings in five of his last six seasons. In his most recent campaign, Giolito pitched a career-high 184 1/3 innings with a 4.88 ERA, playing for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians before becoming a free agent.
Boston could explore other options in free agency to address their pitching needs. Left-handers like Blake Snell, the 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner, and Jordan Montgomery could provide balance to a righty-dominant rotation. Both pitchers offer quality pitching and could be viable additions to bolster the Red Sox’s pitching staff.
