Red Sox’s Lucas Giolito Talks Contract Option, Free Agency Status

Lucas Giolito didn’t pick up the win Wednesday, but the Boston Red Sox pitcher will benefit down the road for his efforts against the Athletics at Fenway Park.

Giolito gave up four runs in four and one-third innings pitched, ending up with a no-decision in the 5-4, walk-off win by the Red Sox. The right-hander’s appearance pushed his innings pitched total past 140 for the season. As a result, the club option for his contract converts to a mutual option, meaning Giolito can opt out and test free agency.

Wednesday’s clunker not withstanding, Giolito has been a solid contributor to the Red Sox starting rotation, going 10-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 25 starts. Those numbers should be more than good enough to score a decent multi-year contract on the open market.

Before Wednesday’s start, Giolito talked to WEEI’s Rob Bradford about his workload and contract status.

“It’s one of those things I have been aware of, I truly realized probably months ago,” he explained, according to Bradford. “I was like, ‘OK, I’m on pace to where this is something I’m not going to have to worry about, or think about.’”

The 2025 season didn’t start so well for Giolito, who missed most of April with a hamstring injury. As you would expect, the 31-year-old was more focused on getting healthy rather than being able to reach his innings threshold.

“That was the last thing on my mind at that point,” Giolito said, per Bradford. “I had to get my leg right. I had to get my mechanics right. There was no thought to that at all. If there was any thoughts it was like, ‘There is no way I’m going to hit that.’ I’m pitching like crap. My body doesn’t feel right. That’s something that is not even in the realm of possibility. Then we fix my mechanics and I start pitching more effectively. It was like, ‘OK cool. I’m comfortable going deep into games again.’ Then I hit a nice pace and like, ‘Cool.’”

Now in his happy place (despite his “trash” start Wednesday), Giolito admits he is thinking about the future in general terms.

“The only thing within your control is what I do out there,” Giolito noted, according to Bradford.”That’s where I really need to dump the most amount of focus. I experienced this in 2023 when I started thinking about, ‘Here I am, I’m traded and I had a pretty good year up until this point and I really have to do well these last few months because I am a free agent.’

“It screwed me up. I went away from that mentality of this worrying about me and I. It’s all about the team and all about going out and giving your team a chance to win. You go deep into games and you give your team a chance to win consistently the numbers will be good. You don’t have to worry about that,” Giolito added.

The former All-Star (2019 with the Chicago White Sox) signed a two-year, $38.5 million contract with the Red Sox before the 2024 season. But he suffered a partially-torn ulnar collateral ligament in spring training and spent last year on the shelf.

Now fully healthy, Giolito says he’s enjoying his time in Boston.

“I have made it very clear how much I love it here,” he added.

Giolito is lined up to return to the mound Wednesday for a crucial game against the Toronto Blue Jays, who sit in first place in the American League East.